Is Your At-Home COVID Test Approved by the FDA? Here's Which Ones Are

As back-to-school season begins, and with omicron subvariants continuing their spread across the U.S., many are counting on the ease of at-home COVID tests to accurately detect positive or negative COVID cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “positive results from self-tests are highly reliable.” However, not all at-home tests kits sold online and in stores have been approved for use by the Federal Drug Administration. And, all kits have expiration dates, with some having a much shorter shelf life than others. Here’s a look at which at-home COVID tests the CDC says are approved by the FDA, and how long each of the kits are good for: BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test, 15 months BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test, 15 monthsCareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test (alternate name is “on/go”), 12 monthsFlowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, 16 monthsBD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test, 6 monthsCelltrion DiaTrust COVID-19 Ag Home Test, 18 monthsCue COVID-19 Test for Home and Over The Counter (OTC) Use, 4 monthsDetect Covid-19 Test, 12 monthsEllume COVID-19 Home Test, 12 monthsGenabio COVID-19 Rapid Self-Test Kit, 18 monthsiHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (alternate name is “Good to Know”), 12 monthsSCoV-2 Ag Detect Rapid Self-Test, 13 monthsLucira CHECK-IT COVID-19 Test Kit, 18 monthsMaximBio ClearDetect COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, 8 monthsInteliSwab COVID-19 Rapid Test, 12 monthsOHC COVID-19 Antigen Self Test, 8 monthsINDICAID COVID-19 Rapid Antigen At-Home Test, 12 monthsQuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test, 12 monthsPilot COVID-19 At-Home Test 1, 9 months CLINITEST Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test, 11 monthsSpeedy Swab Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test, 6 monthsRapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Card, 6 months While the CDC asserts “positive results from self-tests are highly reliable,” it admits negative results may not necessarily rule out infection, particularly in those who are symptomatic. And, under revised guidance from the FDA, individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 may need to take as many as three at-home tests to ensure that they are not experiencing asymptomatic infections. Business Aug 20 Omicron-Specific Covid Booster Shots Are Just Weeks Away. Here's Who Will—and Won't—Be Eligible covid medicine 19 hours ago What Medicine Can You Take for COVID? Paxlovid, Remdesivir and Other Treatment Options covid symptoms Aug 20 When Are You Most Contagious With COVID? Here's a Timeline According to the CDC, tests do not need to be taken only by those experiencing symptoms. And while there is currently no requirement to test out of isolation after having COVID, Chicago’s top doctor has warned that the new BA.5 omicron subvariant is making people test positive longer. “So just a reminder if you catch COVID, regardless of your vaccination status, you need to stay home for five days,” Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said during a recent Facebook live update. “If your symptoms are resolving, are gone by day five, you can leave your house, but you must continue to mask while around others for days six to 10. We’re seeing some examples, especially with the BA.4 and [BA.5] of people testing positive for longer, occasionally testing negative and then positive again later.”

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