Expiration Dates on the BinaxNOW Covid Tests...

[mlktwins]

What are your thoughts?  Are they usable past the expiration date?  I bought some awhile ago and then added to my small stash.  I didn't look to make sure I was using the older ones when we went through 6 tests a couple of weeks ago.  I have 2 boxes expiring in late January.  

[KSera]

I was just trying to figure this out last night myself, as I am in the same boat. I found they have continued testing them to see how long they last and they have extended the expiration date to 12 months from manufacture: https://www.health.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Webpage Updates/COVID-19_BinaxNOW_Product_Expiry_Extension.pdf

I expect we're still at the point where they are testing and don't know if they are good even longer than that.

[EKS]

It is very likely that the expiration date is based on how long their stability study was conducted.  So if their study went for six months (or whatever), and they found that at the end of the study that the product was still good, they simply listed 6 months on the box.  It's likely that the actual expiry is longer, and since the product was rushed to market, it may not yet be known how much longer.

ETA:  It looks like KSera looked it up, and this is indeed what is going on.

Edited December 28, 2021 by EKS

[Farrar]

You'll just have to do something risky so you can use them! With omicron everywhere, play it dangerous and go to the grocery store or something! (kidding... but seriously, with omicron everywhere, I'd bet you end up needing them...)

I also read about this not long ago. General consensus on news articles seems to be could lead for a larger percentage of false results, but probably okay several months past and maybe even a full year for most tests. Date is more CYA for the test maker. 

[mlktwins]

5 minutes ago, Farrar said:

You'll just have to do something risky so you can use them! With omicron everywhere, play it dangerous and go to the grocery store or something! (kidding... but seriously, with omicron everywhere, I'd bet you end up needing them...)

I also read about this not long ago. General consensus on news articles seems to be could lead for a larger percentage of false results, but probably okay several months past and maybe even a full year for most tests. Date is more CYA for the test maker. 

Yep, me too.  Just thought I would ask in case we got lucky!

[EKS]

25 minutes ago, Farrar said:

Date is more CYA for the test maker. 

No--the date is based on actual data.  I know this because I used to conduct stability studies for a pharmaceutical company.