The table below lists FDA-authorized at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests, and includes information on expiration dates, who can use the test, and other details that may help you decide what test is right for you. To see complete information on smaller screens, select the blue plus (+) button beside the test name.

The table includes links to home use instructions for each test. For more information about each test, including the Letter of Authorization and authorized labeling, see In Vitro Diagnostics EUAs: Tables of IVD EUAs.

In the table below, the "Expiration Date" column lists the shelf-life and where to find the expiration date for that test. The shelf-life is how long the test should work as expected and is measured from the date the test was manufactured. The expiration date is set at the end of the shelf-life. In some cases, the expiration date for a test may be extended. An extended expiration date means the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized. For more information about how the expiration date is determined and why it may be extended, see the At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions.

To see if the expiration date for your at-home OTC COVID-19 test has been extended, first find the row in the below table that matches the manufacturer and test name shown on the box label of your test.

• If the Expiration Date column says that the shelf-life is "extended," there is a link to "updated expiration dates" where you can find a list of the original expiration dates and the new expiration dates. Find the original expiration date on the box label of your test and then look for the new expiration date in the "updated expiration dates" table for your test.
• If the Expiration Date column does not say the shelf-life is extended, that means the expiration date on the box label of your test is still correct. The table will say "See box label" instead of having a link to updated expiration dates.

 

Extension to expiration dates of home test kits
At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests | FDA

The table below lists FDA-authorized at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests, and includes information on expiration dates, who can use the test, and other details that may help you decide what test is right for you. To see complete information on smaller screens, select the blue plus (+) button beside the test name.

The table includes links to home use instructions for each test. For more information about each test, including the Letter of Authorization and authorized labeling, see In Vitro Diagnostics EUAs: Tables of IVD EUAs.

In the table below, the "Expiration Date" column lists the shelf-life and where to find the expiration date for that test. The shelf-life is how long the test should work as expected and is measured from the date the test was manufactured. The expiration date is set at the end of the shelf-life. In some cases, the expiration date for a test may be extended. An extended expiration date means the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized. For more information about how the expiration date is determined and why it may be extended, see the At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions.

To see if the expiration date for your at-home OTC COVID-19 test has been extended, first find the row in the below table that matches the manufacturer and test name shown on the box label of your test.

• If the Expiration Date column says that the shelf-life is "extended," there is a link to "updated expiration dates" where you can find a list of the original expiration dates and the new expiration dates. Find the original expiration date on the box label of your test and then look for the new expiration date in the "updated expiration dates" table for your test.
• If the Expiration Date column does not say the shelf-life is extended, that means the expiration date on the box label of your test is still correct. The table will say "See box label" instead of having a link to updated expiration dates.

 

Extension to expiration dates of home test kits
At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests | FDA

 

Download/Print COVID-19 Self-Test Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Why Use a COVID-19 Self-Test?

COVID-19 self-tests are one of many actions you can take to protect yourself and your close contacts. To protect yourself and others against COVID-19, you should:

• Get the COVID19 vaccine and your booster
• Wear a mask
• Practice social distancing, whenever possible

Are COVID-19 self-tests difficult to use?

Self-tests can be taken at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce quick results.

How do I use the iHealth self-test?

Please follow the iHealth instructions for performing the test. They are also enclosed in the test kit. Additional languages are available online.

Each kit has two test cards. Can I use one of them for two people?

Each kit is meant for one person. If your first test is negative, use the second test 24-48 hours later, per manufacturer’s instructions.

 When should I use it?

• Around the holidays - don’t spread COVID-19!
• Use a self-test before going to indoor gatherings with people who are not in your household, in order to make sure you are not spreading infection.
• Use a self-test if you are feeling sick to quickly learn if you might have COVID-19.

 If I am vaccinated or unvaccinated, will the test still work?

Yes. You can use self-tests, regardless of vaccination status.

How long do I need to be sick before I use the test kit?

You can use self-tests, even when you are not sick. Consider using these self-tests before joining indoor gatherings or activities with others who are not your close contacts.

I feel fine, but I am going to a party on New Year’s Eve. Should I use it?

Yes. Before joining others at an indoor party, use the test to make sure you aren’t infecting others.

What does a positive COVID-19 Self-Test Result Mean?

If you test positive, you should isolate and inform your healthcare provider, as well as any close contacts. You do not need to get another test through a doctor or pharmacy.

• A positive self-test result means that the test detected the virus, and you are very likely to have COVID-19.
• Stay home or isolate for five days, even if you are asymptomatic or your symptoms are resolving.
• Wear a mask if you have contact with others.
• Avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else.

What does a negative COVID-19 Self-Test Mean?

A negative self-test result means that the test did not detect the virus and you may not have an infection, but it does not entirely rule out infection. Repeating the test within a few days, with at least 24 hours between tests, will increase the confidence that you are not infected. (That is why each kit comes with two tests.)

What does an inconclusive or invalid COVID-19 Self-Test Mean?

If your home test is inconclusive, use the second test card and try again. If both are inconclusive, then consider getting tested through your health care provider, a pharmacy, or at a community site.

Do I need to report my COVID-19 test result to the state or local health authorities?

No. You do not need to report your result to public health authorities, but you should tell your close contacts (people you have spent time with lately) that you have COVID-19, so that they can get tested and protect others, too. In addition, if a child who attends daycare or school tests positive, you should inform the institution.

Will this test detect variants?

The self-test kits are able to identify COVID-19 variants.

 How accurate are the iHealth COVID-19 self-tests?

Based on the results of a clinical study where the iHealth® COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test was compared to an FDA authorized molecular SARS-CoV-2 test, iHealth® COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test correctly identified 94.3% of positive specimens and 98.1% of negative specimens.

For more information on the iHealth test kits, please visit their website at (scroll to bottom of page for FAQs) : iHealth Covid 19 Antigen Rapid Test Details – iHealth Labs Inc

For more information on self-test kits, please visit the CDC website at: Self-Testing | CDC

 

Download/Print List of COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kits And Disposal Information

List of COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kits And Disposal Information 

Note: Test kits shaded in yellow denote those which have been identified as being purchased and/or distributed by the State of Connecticut. 

Prepared by Ross Bunnell Revised 7/26/2022 Product Name	Is it a Hazardous Waste?	Web Address for MSDS and/or Other Information on Ingredients
Abbott BinaxNOW	No ingredients listed in MSDS. Says it contains no OSHA-regulated substances. Flash point “NA.” No pH data. Disposal section says “Dispose of contents/container in accordance with licensed collector’s sorting instructions.” The Healthcare Provider Instructions indicate just one non-hazardous ingredient – sodium azide (0.0125%).1 This product appears not to be a HW. However, it would have to be disposed of either as a CT-Regulated Waste (CR04) or a special waste.2	MSDS: https://nhfa-ems.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BinaxNOW-COVID-19-Device-SDS-US-195-.pdf. There is also ingredient information on page 3 of the Healthcare Provider Instructions on the FDA website at: https://www.fda.gov/media/144575/download.
AccessBio CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test	The MSDS I did find (which does not appear to be the right one) only lists one hazardous ingredient – sodium azide.1 The Healthcare Provider Instructions list the ingredients as sodium tetraborate (a buffer), EDTA (a preservative), sodium chloride, Triton X-100 (a detergent), and N-Lauroylsarcosine sodium salt (a surfactant) – none of which are hazardous waste constituents. No pH or flash point data is provided. This product appears not to be a HW, but I would need to get the correct MSDS to confirm.	The only MSDS I can find on the website appears to be for the antigen test kit to be used by medical practitioners, not for home use: http://s878047141.onlinehome.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MSDS16- RCH-B-C19-Ag-2021-04-13F.pdf. There is ingredient information on page 6 of the Healthcare Provider Instructions on the FDA website at: https://www.fda.gov/media/151248/download.
ACONlab FlowFlex	No ingredients are listed in MSDS. Says it contains no OSHA-regulated substances. Flash point “NA.” No pH data. Disposal section says “Dispose of contents/container in accordance with	MSDS: https://www.germainelabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Flowflex-Covid-19-Antigen-Home-Test-Safety-Data- Sheet-1.pdf. There is also ingredient information on page 3 of the Healthcare Provider Instructions on the FDA website at: https://www.fda.gov/media/152698/download.

 

Download/Print iHealthExtensionMemo_8-5-22.pdf

 

Public Health Preparedness and Local Health Section 

DATE: August 5, 2022 OPHPR-2022-011 

TO: CT DPH Stakeholders and Entities 

FROM: Francesca Provenzano, MPH, RS, Chief 

Public Health Preparedness and Local Health Section 

RE: iHealth Test Kit Extension 

On July 5, 2022, the manufacturer of iHealth COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits announced that they had received approval through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend the expiration date on their test kits for an additional three-months. This second FDA approval extends the shelf-life for all iHealth tests to six months past the labeled expiration date on the box. For example, if the expiration date printed on your test kit box reads 2022-08, the updated expiration date is 2023-02. 

iHealth Test Kit instructions are available in multiple languages including Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Khmer, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Please visit the links below to view the FDA letter and look up the new expiration date. 

Also, attached to this memorandum is guidance issued by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection related to appropriate disposal of rapid antigen test kits, in the event your existing supplies of iHealth test kits (or other test kit brands) have gone beyond their extended expiration date. Always check with the manufacturer before discarding your test kits, as they have likely received FDA approval for a shelf-life extension. 

If you have any questions, or would like to obtain alternative language instructions, please submit an email to PHAD.dph@ct.gov. 

c: Ellen Blaschinski, MBA, RS, Branch Chief 

att 

Phone: (860) 509-8282 • Fax: (860) 509-7160
Telecommunications Relay Service 7-1-1
410 Capitol Avenue, P.O. Box 340308 MS#13PHP
Hartford, Connecticut 06134-0308
www.ct.gov/dph
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

 

Download/Print Community and Tribal Nation Guidance for COVID-19 Self-Tests and Masks

Testing is critically important to help reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Self-testing is also useful for screening for COVID-19 immediately before an activity to see if you are positive for COVID-19. Self-testing offers fast results and is one of several options for testing available.

Testing is only one of many risk-reduction measures. Vaccination & getting a booster shot, masking and social distancing are also essential risk-reduction actions people should take to stop the spread of COVID-19. Whenever possible, municipal officials and tribal nation elders should promote vaccination, masking and social distancing in their communities.

Here are some guidelines for the community-based distribution of COVID-19 self-tests:

• The majority of COVID-19 self-tests are being distributed through cities and towns:
  • Cities and towns have discretion to develop the distribution model that best fits their community
  • Distribution should prioritize vulnerable populations and provide access to self-test kits after traditional work hours
  • Cities and towns may use a portion of the tests to ensure the availability of their essential workforce (e.g., emergency responders)
• Please encourage people to take only what they need for immediate use; limit distribution to a maximum of four self-test kits per household
• Directions in English and Spanish are enclosed in test kits. Additional languages will be posted online in the upcoming day(s)
• It’s important that the self-test kits are stored between 36 – 86 degrees Fahrenheit
• All towns/tribal nations can pick up test kits at the designated DEMHS regional sites on Thursday, December 30th

Here are some guidelines for the community-based distribution of masks:

• In the upcoming week, the state of Connecticut will also be working with communities to distribute masks to residents
• There will be no limit on N95 masks being requested from communities
• DEMHS regional coordinators will provide guidance to communities and partner agencies on submitting WebEOC resource requests for N95 masks
• The following schedule reflects the distribution plan for requested N95 masks:
  • Wednesday, January 5th: Regions 1 and 2 can pick up masks at designated DEMHS regional sites
  • Thursday, January 6th: Regions 3, 4, and 5 can pick up masks at designated DEMHS regional sites

**Please reach out to your regional DEMHS coordinator if you have any questions about the locations or logistics**

Thank you for your participation in this initiative