The federal public health emergency ended on May 11, 2023. As the United States enters the endemic phase of COVID-19, test kits will no longer be available for free or little-to-no-cost. 

Terry Werth has been preparing for the limited access by collecting test kits whenever she’s had the chance. 

What You Need To Know

  • The federal COVID-19 public health emergency ended May 11, 2023

  • The funding for free or little-to-no-cost COVID-19 test kits has also ended

  • Thousands of New Yorkers have made it a habit to collect these test kits in case of emergency

  • You can find an accurate expiration date for any COVID-19 test kits on the FDA's website

“They were all no cost to us, either through the government program, by mail or through our doctor’s office,” Werth said.

As a stage 3 breast cancer survivor, she was considered high-risk and has had more access to resources to help protect herself and her family. Werth has been collecting COVID-19 tests in case of emergency. Now that the supply has stopped coming in, she’s worried about maintaining her stockpile. 

“There’s just one problem, all except these are expired,” Werth said, pointing to her dozens of tests. “[This one expires on] 12-20-22. This one is 8-26-22. So pretty much we’re just going to check them all.”

She says expiration dates have left her with only a few kits that will only last a couple more months. 

“We have six tests and those are good for a few months, but then we’ll have no tests,” Werth said.

Tens of thousands of Americans share a similar fear, and are left with questions about what to do with their collections. 

“There are some things like canned foods, frozen foods,” Werth said. “There are some things you look at the expiration date [and] you say, ‘I don’t know whether these expiration dates are firm, whether they really, really won’t work or whether they’re not as likely to work.’” 

Dr. Roberto Vargas is the executive medical director and chair of pathology and laboratory medicine at Rochester General Hospital and Rochester Regional. He says expired tests are best to just be thrown out. 

“As a big class of tests, what they do is they capture proteins that belong to the virus, and as they expire, they become less efficient at capturing those proteins,” Vargas said. “And you’re going to have an increased rate of false negatives.” 

He also notes that many COVID-19 test kits may not have an accurate expiration date listed on the box and there’s only one way to know for sure if a test can be used or not. 

“The best course of action is to look up your specific test in the FDA’s website,” Vargas said. “There will be updated expiration dates for some of them the expiration date was actually accelerated.” 

Americans will need to keep an extra close eye on their tests, but there will still be other ways for people like Werth to keep up with their collection. 

“I’m assuming you’ll be able to buy them at pharmacies, but it’s going to kill us to have to start paying for COVID tests,” She said. 

Tests may not be available at such a little cost in the future, but can still be purchased at pharmacies, and found at your doctor’s office or nearest health clinic. Medical professionals still recommend to get tested if you don’t feel well. More testing facilities near you can be found at your county website.