Expired COVID-19 test? How to check if it’s still good

Are there unopened COVID-19 tests sitting in your closet? A lot of people don’t realize that at-home COVID-19 tests have expiration dates because parts of the tests may break down over time and give inaccurate results. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend using expired COVID-19 tests. But some manufacturers have collected more stability data, and some tests may have FDA-authorized extended expiration dates. This means you may be able to use your test past the date listed on the package. 

To find out if your test has FDA-authorized extended dating, follow these simple steps:

1. Find your test’s name, manufacturer, expiration date and lot number. The lot number is typically located above the expiration date.
   
   
2. Visit the FDA website, scroll down to the table and find your test. Be sure both the manufacturer and test name are correct since some manufacturers produce more than one test.
   
   
3. Review the last column of the table for information on expiration dates. If your test has extended dating, there will be an “updated expiration dates” link to click where you can find your test’s lot number and new expiration date. If your lot number is not listed, you should follow the expiration date printed on the box. (Watch our video on expired COVID-19 tests here.)
   
   

Published November 2022. Updated May 2023.