If the BinaxNOW COVID test expiration date has passed, will it still work? What to know

David Robinson, New York State Team
Updated ·3 min read
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After a summer lull, COVID-19 is back and sending some New Yorkers digging into closets to find at-home COVID test kits, only to discover months-old expiration dates on boxes.

But before tossing the test kits, New Yorkers should check a federal website that explains how and why that expiration date on the box has actually been extended, in many cases, by months following analysis by the Food and Drug Administration.

When can I use an expired COVID test?

The expiration date for an at-home COVID-19 diagnostic test may be extended as additional stability data is collected, FDA says.

You can check the Expiration Date column of the List of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests to see if the expiration date for your at-home OTC COVID-19 test has been extended and how to find any new expiration date.

Further details about the extension process are available on the FDA website, fda.gov, or through the agency's hotline 1-888-INFO-FDA.

How much have COVID test expiration dates been extended?

Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 at-home test kits
Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 at-home test kits

In April, the FDA released the most recent list of COVID test kit extensions, including some that added months to the shelf-life of particular brands.

For example, one brand of Abbott's BinaxNOW COVID test kits received a 15-month to 22-month shelf-life extension. That means a kit with an expiration date on the box of May 12 is now safe to use until Dec. 12.

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But other brands received shorter extensions, which underscored the importance of checking the list to get the most accurate details.

Will COVID tests work beyond extended expiration date?

Using at-home COVID-19 diagnostic tests beyond their extended expiration dates is not recommended by the FDA.

COVID-19 tests and their components may degrade, or break down, over time, FDA says, and because of this, expired test kits could give inaccurate or invalid test results.

Do you need to take another COVID test after getting a negative?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 09: A Covid-19 testing tent sits along a Manhattan street on March 09, 2023 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 09: A Covid-19 testing tent sits along a Manhattan street on March 09, 2023 in New York City.

Yes. The FDA recommends repeat testing following a negative COVID-19 antigen (at-home) test result whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms.

COVID-19 antigen (at home) tests are less accurate than molecular tests and may not detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus early in an infection or in people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms.

Among the FDA recommendations:

  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms, test again 48 hours after the first negative test, for a total of at least two tests.

  • If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms, test again 48 hours after the first negative test, then 48 hours after the second negative test, for a total of at least three tests.

  • If you get a positive result on any COVID-19 test, you most likely have COVID-19 and should follow the CDC guidance for people with COVID-19.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: If the BinaxNOW COVID test expiration date passed, will it still work?