Free at-home COVID-19 tests available: What to do if yours says its expired

Starting Monday, American households can now apply to receive four free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government, though they might appear to be expired.

Once again, the U.S. government is rolling out free at-home COVID-19 tests for all Americans, offering four tests per household, delivered for free by the United States Postal Service. Consumers receiving the tests, though, may discover they have a past-due expiration date printed on them.

Government officials have noted that some of the tests rolling out may appear to be expired, but are still functional. Here's what you need to know to make sure you get accurate results with your free at-home tests:

How to find the new expiration date

On an online Frequently Asked Questions page, the FDA acknowledged that some tests in American households may have passed their printed expiration date. In most cases, the FDA advises to not use expired tests. However, they have published an online list of different types of tests which have had their expiration dates extended.

A full list of the tests and their expiration dates can be found here . Under the "expiration date" tab, check if your tests have an extended timeline.

If the chart for your test reads "Expiration Date: See box label," the expiration date has not been extended. If there is a link to a new expiration date, click on it, find the lot number on your test kit and corroborate it on the file to know the new expiration date for your tests.

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Skyla Butts, 59 of Southfield, said she just registered for the next batch of free tests. In the past, Butts has received expired tests from the free test program. She was able to check the dates herself after learning the tests had a past-due expiration date.

"Based on the lots, I compared them to the list and discovered they were still valid, you've just got to be careful," Butts said.

After placing an order for free tests this fall, Butts said she received a confirmation email with a link to the list of tests that are still valid despite being past their printed expiration date. If she gets expired tests on her doorstep, she knows where to look.

While she will still use the tests, Butts wondered if they will be as accurate. She said she always adheres strictly to expiration dates on food items and is hesitant to take a more relaxed approach to COVID-19 tests with inconsistent expiration dates.

"I mean, what is this information based on?" Butts said. "Can we trust these expiration dates?"

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How does it work?

In an emailed statement, the FDA explained that when many COVID-19 tests were first manufactured, studies indicated the products would have a shorter shelf life than they do. Many test kits were manufactured with these shorter expiration dates printed on them.

As studies have progressed, though, test manufacturers have learned their products are just as effective on a longer timeline.

"COVID-19 test manufacturers perform studies to show how long after manufacturing COVID-19 tests perform as accurately as the day the test was manufactured," the FDA wrote, quoting from their Frequently Asked Questions page.

"The dates printed on the box were determined based upon stability data that was available when the test was manufactured. ... Once the test manufacturer has more stability testing results, such as 12 or 18 months, the test manufacturer can contact the FDA to request that the FDA authorize a longer shelf-life," the FDA wrote.

The application portal to order free tests opened on Thursday. To order a test, visit COVID.gov/tests . Beginning Monday, USPS will begin shipping the tests for free.

Breaking news reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at