Thanks Socks.

Yes, thanks!

From the linked article I was able to get to the FDA's page - here's the link to their list:

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list

Thanks for this, my book club likes to rest before meeting and I noticed at least one box that expired 08/22.

Thanks socks and carolb.

Check with your pharmacy is they have any free tests. Last time I went to pick up my script there was 8 tests in the bag. Just what I didn't want. The government is trying to get rid of them.

Thanks! Mine are extended to mid-February. When we got our boosters, the pharmacy offered free test kits.

I just checked my stash. I got them last year and they expire in 2024. I wonder why yours have a shorter life? Are they a different type? They are in boxes of 7. When I got Covid I needed that many before I finally tested negative.

Must be different where you are, Floral. The ones I got expired in just a few months, but now extended a few more months.

I had to buy tests at CVS, @chisue. A family member continued to test positive for quite some time even though she felt ill only one day. It was very frustrating, and we used up several tests.

@functionthenlook If you should get the virus and have the positive test results last for a longer period of time than you expect, those 8 tests, which now seem like a lot, could be very handy. Anyway, if you don't want them, give to friends, neighbors, anyone.

socks, we never used the tests or have been tested and highly doubt we ever will. I kept 2 one for at each place incase someone else is looking for one and the rest I gave away. I wish the pharmacy would have asked first if I wanted any.

@socks, we were advised by the Cleveland Clinic telemedicine doctor not to retest. You will test positive even though you are no longer contagious.

I wasnt aware of the above. Good to know.

I have four kits (20 tests) left and they don't expire for another 14 months. They were manufactured 2022-01-02 and expire 2024-01-02

We got four tests when the Feds were mailing them to people. Maker is iHealth. They expired in August. According to the chart on extended use, they'll only be good through the middle of this coming February. Knock wood, neither of us has had any Covid symptoms.

I'm seeing a lot of press about Long Covid, most serious among younger people.

Another interesting tidbit: The natural immunities that helped some of our ancestors able to be among the 50 percent of people who survived the Black Death are ones that make descendants more likely to get Covid. (Gleaned from yesterday's BBC America feed.)

I saw that too, about those who survived bubonic. So those of us who got that gene from Black Plague days are more likely to get Covid but are safe from bubonic? 🙂

I have wondered if there is a segment of the world’s population which has some natural immunity.

I find the bubonic plague theory interesting. My older brother got bubonic plague in Vietnam. He lives in a very open part of our state. Never put on a mask, no vaccines and went on with his life as usual. As far as we know he never got Covid nor any of its variants.

I believe I probably had Covid before it hit the news. At the end of 2019 through the beginning of 2020 I was having issues with fatigue, mild bouts of fever similar to hot flashes and a dry, harsh, continuous cough that lasted over 2 months. Got the variant couple of months ago. Felt completely out of it for 24 hours (sore throat and fever), then felt better but lost all my appetite for several days. Building my strength back from not eating was my biggest hurdle. Was back to normal activity in 5 days. DH had the first two shots. He tested positive a few days after I was ill. I never bothered to test at all. Why test for the obvious? His symptoms were similar to mine except he always still eats when he gets sick and my appetite is the first to go whenever I fight anything viral. I guess my immune system really kicks up the cytokines.

Repeatedly home testing until negative is a waste. The home test cannot tell the difference between viable or nonviable virus. In fact the PCR can test positive up to twelve weeks because it also can not tell the difference between viable and nonviable.