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Four free home Covid-19 antigen tests are available at COVIDTests.govThe seventh round is part of the federal government's pilot distribution program.
And although this round of test orders has only lasted a month, some people have said that some tests are nearing their expiration date.
It can be tempting to throw away those tests or other COVID-19 home testing kits marked near their expiration date, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is encouraging people to get tested. His website Extensions before throwing perfectly good tests.
These Antigen testsOften called rapid tests, they detect proteins called antigens from the virus that causes Covid-19. You can provide positive or negative test results in your own home in minutes.
The FDA states that the shelf life “must perform as expected and is measured from the date the test was manufactured.” The expiration date is “set at the end of the shelf life and the date when the test is expected to be performed exactly as it is manufactured.”
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said some tests for Covid-19 may continue to work correctly. Up to one year after the expiration date on their account, assuming they are properly stored.
“As long as they haven't been severely abused and they haven't been subjected to any sort of abuse in the sun or other means of testing, they should still work,” Schaffner said.
He also pointed out that the manufacturers of Covid-19 tests determine these dates based on laboratory tests.
“They produce the tests, then they put them on the shelf,” Schaffner said. The Food and Drug Administration periodically takes two months, four months, six months, and so on off the shelf to see how well they work.
Professionals Recommends. Get tested for Covid-19 if symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath and fatigue appear. Different respiratory infections can have similar symptoms, so it can be difficult to know what's causing your illness. The FDA recommends that people take Several quick tests To confirm that they do not have covid-19, two negative tests were done for symptomatic people and three for asymptomatic people, 48 hours apart.
Prescription drugs such as Paxlovide can help with the symptoms of Covid-19, and Tamiflu can treat the common cold. But these drugs work best when taken after the symptoms start, so it's a good idea to get tested when you start getting sick.
“The respiratory system, the nose, throat and bronchial tubes are simple organs that go down to the lungs,” Schaffner said. They respond similarly to most respiratory viral infections. All of these viruses can cause common cold symptoms, but they tend to be more symptomatic.
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During the respiratory virus season, experts recommend getting the covid-19, flu and RSV vaccines. If eligible, to provide protection during peak season in fall December and March.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get it by 2024-25. Covid-19 vaccine Also updated Flu vaccine. RSV vaccine It is recommended for people 75 and older and 60 and older who are at risk of chronic pain.
The shots help expose your immune system to these germs, which can make you seriously ill if you catch them.
“That's how these vaccines work: They prevent serious disease,” Schaffner said. “Our patients complain when they get mild infections because 'I was miserable for four days.' I wouldn't call that naive.' So we're sorry you've had a cold for several days, but I'm glad you didn't enjoy the benefits of our hospital.