Re:Expired at-home covid tests I received the at-home Covid-19 tests.They have now expired.

[japple]

Are there any components to this kit that could be used by others in the medical community? I know there are swabs, but are there other items that might be usable by a clinic or veterinarian? I really hate to throw all of this stuff in the garbage if there's a better way to recycle it.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Personally, shelf-life and expiration dates don't mean much to me

Now if they were 7 years old I'd balk, but in a pinch they might be all that's available, or the next round might be $29.95 each

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. I vaguely remember something over the summer

That the expire dates could be pushed out 3 months from what is on the box. Don't ask me where I saw it, but I think it was from the Health Dept.

[Rebl2]

9. I remember

that too.

[mahina]

3. Here's the link for updated expiration dates

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests

If you are leery of clicking links as I am, you can also Google updated expiration dates Covid test. That’s how I found it just now.

Good luck.

[grumpyduck]

7. Thank you. I was trying to remember that link

to post it. That's where I went and found that my "expired" tests still had 3-4 months of life.

[JohnSJ]

4. It depends how far past expiration. They may still be valid

https://www.nbc15.com/2022/09/08/experts-explain-why-expired-at-home-covid-tests-are-still-usable/

[jimfields33]

5. What I did was use the cheap Tests to see if I was positive or not.

I had a few that were negative and then one positive. When I got that positive, I made an appointment at Walgreens and got a true test done. That way you’re still using your test but if you want to true accurate look, you can go to Walgreens or any other place that gives the Test and they’re all free. You got the results pretty quickly.

[oldtime dfl_er]

6. But the original question is a good one

I have some that are badly out of date (six months or more) and it never occurred to me to deconstruct them and save what might be useful.

[keithbvadu2]

8. Medicare pays for covid home test kits

If you want covid home test kits and you're on Medicare, you are authorized up to eight
per month. I picked up eight at Walgreens with no copay. Medicare picked it up. Most drug
stores can probably do this.
You can also sign up for them online but you will probably get 8 per month forever. Once
the online suppliers get your Medicare number, they will ship as much to you as possible
to make money off the Medicare system and you probably won't need that many.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

10. I was able to get that w/ my Aetna insurance as well

Not sure if it's every month, but I was able to get them when I was recovering from COVID.

[japple]

11. The biggest problem for me is that I don't want 8 tests or even 2. I don't want to acquire

anything that I might not use that I will have to either throw in a landfill or try to somehow recycle.

ETA: I am fully boosted and have started masking again after a brief interlude in the fall. If I think I might need testing, I guess I'll go somewhere that testing is done.

[wishstar]

12. Our recently expired kits didn't work at all to even show the control lines, but fresher kits worked

Spouse had symptoms yesterday so I got out a box that had just recently expired. Both of our tests failed to show even the control lines. So I got out a fresher Abbott Labs box (different company from expired kits) and we retook the tests with mine coming out negative and spouse's positive so I proceeded to throw out all our expired tests but I recycled the instructions and paper boxes and kept the swabs for future use perhaps cleaning something? Spouse was able to do video exam with our doc and get onto Paxlovid yesterday and is doing okay.