With the recent news that the federal government is going to stop sending out free COVID-19 test kits by the end of this week, this is a good time for those who have test kits around the house to take a moment to check the expiration dates of their products.

I mention this as the test kits when originally produced had short expiration dates however I would not throw them away.  On the test kits, you will see a Use By Date (i.e. 2022-7-19 which was last month).  However the manufacturer regularly updates the expiration dates and all one has to do is center their phone on the QR Code to the left in the picture above and check the most updated expiration date (the test kit pictured is now good until Jan 17, 2023). You can also visit the website for the test kit manufacturer and enter the lot number to find the updated expiration date.

Many people ask the question, how can the expiration date can change?  The reality is that as the products undergo more stability testing, the results show a longer shelf life, and the government is approving the extension of the expiration date.  One should feel comfortable still using the product.

In the meantime, if you want to order more kits, do it quickly. You have until this Friday, September 2nd.  Order at COVID.gov/tests – Free at-home COVID-19 tests to ensure you have enough kits because we all know families will be gathering inside in November and December and responsible steps should be taken to prevent any spread!