FDA extends shelf life of some popular COVID tests

[Image courtesy of Abbott]The FDA announced today that certain COVID-19 diagnostic tests under emergency use authorization now have a longer shelf life.

Diagnostics made by Abbott, Maxim Biomedical and iHealth Labs all received extensions for their expiration dates.

The Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 antigen self tests now have a shelf life of 22 months. Previously, the popular test had a 15-month shelf life.

Maxim Biomedical’s ClearDetect COVID-19 antigen home test initially received authorization with an eight-month shelf life. The FDA announced that it extended the shelf life of that test to 12 months.

iHealth Labs COVID-19 antigen rapid tests received a three-month extension from 12 months to 15 months.

“The expiration dates for these tests have been extended to reflect the longer shelf-life,” the FDA said in a notice. The agency based its extension on additional data provided by the manufacturers. This data demons…

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