Government offering free at-home COVID tests
The government is once again offering free at-home COVID tests.
If you saved some from the last time they were issued, now is a good time to double-check their expiration dates.
“Most of the over-the-counter SARS-CoV-2 tests look for the antigen found on the virus,” said Dr. Daniel Rhoads, a microbiologist for the Cleveland Clinic. “That’s the protein coating, and it uses antibodies to do that. So over time, those antibodies can kind of wear out. They can degrade. Just like food in your cabinet has an expiration date, the tests have an expiration date.”
Rhoads said if a person uses an expired COVID test, they risk getting a “false negative” – even if they are actually sick.
However, the opposite is true for a “false positive.”
If the expired test shows a positive result, it’s typically accurate.
Now before you go and throw away any old tests you have sitting around, Dr. Rhoads suggests visiting the FDA’s website first.
The agency created a page where you can look up whether your COVID test has an extended expiration date.