Warning: Your at-home COVID-19 test expiration date might not be accurate
Editor's Note
Since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began allowing inbound travelers to fly into the United States with a negative result from an at-home instant COVID-19 test in May, just two tests have been approved for use — Abbott’s BinaxNow COVID-19 Home Test and Ellume's COVID-19 Home Test.
On Oct. 1, Ellume voluntarily recalled more than 2 million tests, citing "higher-than-acceptable false-positive test results" falsely indicating that a user had tested positive for the coronavirus.
"Upon determining that a portion of our test kits were reporting higher than expected false-positive test results, we worked quickly with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to voluntarily recall the problematic test kits and correct the issue," Ellume founder and CEO Dr. Sean Parsons said at the time. "In this case, we noted that some tests from specific lot numbers may provide an incorrect positive result at a higher rate than was observed in clinical testing. Following a thorough investigation, we isolated the cause and confirmed that this incidence of false positives is limited to specific lots.”
Many travelers have continued using the BinaxNow test as their go-to at-home option for travel, including TPG staff and readers, who have reported favorable experiences overall, despite hours-long wait times in August due to an increase in international travel. Although wait times appear to have decreased, there's a new issue regarding expiration. Some of us have received tests for future use, only to find an expiration date that's already passed.
It turns out these tests are likely not expired, so don’t be fooled by the expiration dates.
All Abbott tests have a 12-month expiration
Although your at-home test may not actually be expired, you should know that they do expire, and that information should be clearly identified on each box.
Earlier this year, Abbott received approval from the FDA to extend the shelf life of its tests to 12 months. While this was good news for the longevity of the tests, it meant that the expiration date written on tests distributed before this approval may no longer be accurate.
Related: Travelers can now buy CDC-approved at-home COVID-19 tests for just $50
Therefore, Abbott began including notes with their testing kits informing customers that their tests were not actually expired. Be sure to look out for the below note about calculating a test's expiration date, which directs you to add an additional three months to the date listed.
"I purchased three of the Abbott tests through eMed earlier this fall for my first international trip in two years, and when I received them, there was an insert with news of the extended expiration dates," said TPG senior editor Nick Ewen. "Essentially, this meant that I have an additional three months to use them — so rather than expiring Sept. 28, 2021, (which would've been prior to our trip), they now expire on Dec. 28, 2021. The insert was very clear as to how to calculate the updated date."
Related: Top questions on vaccination/travel requirements to the U.S. and Europe
You may or may not receive a note
If you don't see a note in your delivery box informing you of this extension, you are not alone.
"I just got a box this week and the expiration dates in there are Nov. 11, 2021, with no note about extension in the box," said TPG travel content director Summer Hall. "So, if you didn't know then you might be in for a shock!"
If this happens to you, we suggest checking with the testing company. Abbott did not respond to a request clarifying why some people are not receiving the note.
For example, TPG senior editor Clint Henderson received several BinaxNow tests with an expiration date of Oct. 15, 2021. Upon calling the company, he was told that all expiration dates had been extended for an extra three months.
Bottom line
This test remains a great option for international travelers looking for a convenient way to take a COVID-19 test to come to the U.S. since it is supervised and administered remotely via Zoom. So, the next time you are planning on using your Abbott at-home test, you might need to add three months to the expiration date listed to ensure it is still valid.
Related: 5 things to know about at-home COVID-19 tests for travel
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.