Don’t toss your expired COVID-19 home test
By Roberta Cannon, RN
Before tossing your expired COVID-19 home test kit in the trash, check the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) website to find out if the expiration date has been extended.
In July, when I needed to test after developing some symptoms, I realized two of my tests had expired. I decided to check if that would affect the accuracy of the results and, after doing a little research, I discovered the FDA information. The test I wanted to use had an extended expiration date, and the results would be accurate.
Most expiration dates should be taken seriously, because the material breaks down and can cause inaccurate test results, according to Angela Medeiros, Pharm D, manager of the COVID-19 testing site at Cape Cod Hospital. However, with COVID-19 home tests, “there was an exception made to that when the FDA collected further information on some of these tests and extended their stability date because they found they were stable longer than initially thought,” she said.
While many choose to use the at-home tests, which are usually antigen tests, Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital continue to provide drive-thru testing for those who choose to have a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which is processed through their labs, or are required to get one for planned procedures.
“We peaked at testing 1,300 patients through the Cape Cod Hospital drive-thru testing site in one day at the height of the pandemic,” said Medeiros. “Now we are seeing 80-100 people per day.”
Reasons for Getting Tested
People are coming through the testing sites if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or they have been exposed to someone who tested positive, she said. “We advise them to wait five days after exposure before they get tested, if they do not have symptoms.”
Some are testing for personal reasons, whether it’s school, workplace or have an event they are attending that may require a test, said Medeiros. Others are doing it for travel purposes. Insurance doesn’t always cover testing for travel so there is typically a charge of $125.
Medeiros explained if the surgery or procedure is scheduled at another health facility, the results can be viewed by the provider, if they have access to the Epic electronic medical records used by Cape Cod Healthcare providers. If not, the results can be faxed to the physician who ordered the test.
Test results are normally available within 24 hours but can take up to 48 hours.
Appointments for COVID-19 testing can be made by going online to Cape Cod Healthcare COVID-19 testing page or by calling 508-534-7103. Patients who are registered on the MyChart electronic records system at CCHC can also schedule and view test results on that platform.
Cape Cod Hospital drive-thru site hours are Sunday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Falmouth Hospital drive-thru site hours are Sunday through Thursday 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Published on Cape Cod Health News, September 27, 2022
In July, when I needed to test after developing some symptoms, I realized two of my tests had expired. I decided to check if that would affect the accuracy of the results and, after doing a little research, I discovered the FDA information. The test I wanted to use had an extended expiration date, and the results would be accurate.
Most expiration dates should be taken seriously, because the material breaks down and can cause inaccurate test results, according to Angela Medeiros, Pharm D, manager of the COVID-19 testing site at Cape Cod Hospital. However, with COVID-19 home tests, “there was an exception made to that when the FDA collected further information on some of these tests and extended their stability date because they found they were stable longer than initially thought,” she said.
While many choose to use the at-home tests, which are usually antigen tests, Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital continue to provide drive-thru testing for those who choose to have a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which is processed through their labs, or are required to get one for planned procedures.
“We peaked at testing 1,300 patients through the Cape Cod Hospital drive-thru testing site in one day at the height of the pandemic,” said Medeiros. “Now we are seeing 80-100 people per day.”
Reasons for Getting Tested
People are coming through the testing sites if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or they have been exposed to someone who tested positive, she said. “We advise them to wait five days after exposure before they get tested, if they do not have symptoms.”
Some are testing for personal reasons, whether it’s school, workplace or have an event they are attending that may require a test, said Medeiros. Others are doing it for travel purposes. Insurance doesn’t always cover testing for travel so there is typically a charge of $125.
Medeiros explained if the surgery or procedure is scheduled at another health facility, the results can be viewed by the provider, if they have access to the Epic electronic medical records used by Cape Cod Healthcare providers. If not, the results can be faxed to the physician who ordered the test.
Test results are normally available within 24 hours but can take up to 48 hours.
Appointments for COVID-19 testing can be made by going online to Cape Cod Healthcare COVID-19 testing page or by calling 508-534-7103. Patients who are registered on the MyChart electronic records system at CCHC can also schedule and view test results on that platform.
Cape Cod Hospital drive-thru site hours are Sunday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Falmouth Hospital drive-thru site hours are Sunday through Thursday 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Published on Cape Cod Health News, September 27, 2022