With Covid-19 cases on the upswing across the UK, here's what you need to know about those expired Covid-19 tests you might still have at home. Virologists are keeping a wary eye on new 'FLiRT' variants - the Fresh Lineage of Rapid Transmission. Recent data suggest an uptick in hospitalisations tied to the virus.
The Mirror has highlighted that as of June 16, the rate of Covid-19 related hospital admissions stands at 3.31 per 100,000 people, marking a 23% jump from the previous week. Feeling a bit peaky, with a cough or a fever? You might be thinking of reaching for a Covid-19 test that's lying around.
But hold your horses - these tests can expire, and using them after their due date is a no-go. 'Flying Chaos', a 23-year-old who balances creating content with chucking grease on aircraft engines, got wise to this in a less than ideal fashion. The TikTok user alerted followers with a warning from his @flying_chaos handle and said: "If you have at home Covid test kits sitting around, check their expiration date because it could be expired.
"And if they're expired, they could give you a false positive or a false negative. We're not able to go back to work because of a possible false positive - two possible false positives. Check your Covid tests, make sure they're not expired please!" Typically, those handy rapid antigen Covid-tests - the ones where you get up close and personal with your nostrils - are good for up to two years, says the NHS.
However, always check your individual.
