Corona self-test expired: Can I still use it?-After the pandemic, many households still have unused Corona self-tests. But in most cases the expiry date on the packaging has long since passed. Can the tests still be used or should they be thrown away? That’s what experts recommend.
Whether at the supermarket checkout, in the pharmacy or drugstore – corona self-tests, which detect the coronavirus in a nasal swab within a few minutes, were available everywhere during the pandemic. Some of them were also provided free of charge by companies.
Old rapid tests: This is what you should know
- How long do Corona self-tests last?
- Can you still use expired self-tests?
- Does an expired Corona self-test still provide meaningful results?
- How should Corona self-tests be best stored?
- Are Corona self-tests still necessary – now that the pandemic is over?
- Do the Corona tests recognize the FLiRT variant KP.3?
- How and where must expired Corona self-tests be disposed of?
How long do Corona self-tests last?
If you look at the packaging of the Corona self-tests, you will find two dates: one is the production date and one is the expiry date . The expiry date is marked by an hourglass symbol.
For some tests, the time between the manufacturing date and the expiry date may be longer. In addition, the individual components of the test kit may have different expiry dates.
Can you still use expired self-tests?
If the expiry date has been exceeded, the Corona self-tests do not become unusable from one day to the next . last year “If they were stored at room temperature, then I would use them for two to three months beyond the expiry date,” Andreas Dotzauer from the Laboratory for Virus Research at the University of Bremen told the Nordsee-Zeitung . “But not longer.”
Martin Sturmer, virologist and laboratory manager at the IMD laboratory for interdisciplinary medicine and diagnostics in Frankfurt, recommends no longer using expired rapid tests. “In addition, you should check whether the tests have been stored in the past according to the manufacturer’s instructions,” he says. “If not, they should no longer be used, regardless of the expiry date.” If stored incorrectly, the tests can lose their reliability.
Does an expired Corona self-test still provide meaningful results?
In general, the following applies to corona self-tests: They are less informative than the PCR tests carried out by laboratories – and they can show false results. This means that you cannot rely 100 percent on the results of the self-test.
“In principle, it is of course better to use a rapid test that has expired than not to use one at all,” says virologist Marco Binder from the Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. “If the result is positive, the infection is still highly likely. I see no reason to assume that there could be an increase in false positive results from expired tests.”
On the other hand, there is a fear that an expired Corona self-test will have reduced sensitivity. This means: “A negative result from an expired test is even less reliable than from a freshly purchased test. And the rule always applies there too: Positive is positive, but negative doesn’t mean that it isn’t Corona after all,” explains Binder. Therefore, the following still applies: “If you feel sick, it is better to stay at home and stay away from others as much as possible.”
The PEI also points to reduced test performance, which occurs because components of the test kit lose quality over time. “This applies in particular to biologically active components such as the antibodies with which the membrane of the test cassette is coated to detect the coronavirus antigen,” explains the authority. “The antibodies applied to this membrane (test strips) are subject to chemical and physical decomposition over time.” This could lead to structural changes in the antibodies – and this in turn means that the test does not detect a corona infection.
How should Corona self-tests be best stored?
It is generally recommended to store the Corona self-tests in a dry place and at room temperature . The packaging inserts contain temperature information between two and 30 degrees Celsius. If they are stored too warm or too cold, this can affect their significance and lead to distorted results.
The test kits have an average shelf life of up to one year when unopened, but when opened they expire much more quickly. Most manufacturers also recommend leaving the tests in the sealed bags provided until they are used . Once removed, they should be used within one or half an hour. If a test has not been stored correctly for a long period of time, it should no longer be used – even if the expiration date has not yet been exceeded.
Are Corona self-tests still necessary – now that the pandemic is over?
Corona self-tests can still be useful. For example, if you want to visit your grandparents and want to make sure beforehand that you have not been infected with the coronavirus. Ultimately, the pathogen continues to circulate in the population.
Do the Corona tests recognize the FLiRT variant KP.3?
A new variant, the FLiRT variant KP.3, is currently causing more infections. Corona self-tests can continue to help detect this Corona variant. There is so far no indication that the tests have been rendered unusable by KP.3.
How and where must expired Corona self-tests be disposed of?
Corona self-tests should always be disposed of in a sturdy, tightly closed garbage bag with residual waste . Since the residual waste is thermally recycled, i.e. burned, there is no risk of other people becoming infected with virus residues. The outer packaging made of paper or cardboard and the leaflet that do not come into contact with virus material can be disposed of as paper waste. Plastic packaging components that are still virus-free can be thrown into the plastic waste.