You’re standing in your kitchen, feeling a little scratchy in the throat, and you pull that dusty white and blue box out of the junk drawer. You look at the side of the box and see it: a date that passed six months ago. Before you toss it in the trash, wait. Seriously.
The ohc covid test expiration date on that box is probably wrong.
It’s not a conspiracy or a mistake by the manufacturer, OSANG LLC. It’s actually just a result of how the FDA handles medical tech during a fast-moving pandemic. When these kits were first boxed up, the scientists didn't have years of data to prove they’d stay stable for a long time. They played it safe. As time went on and they kept testing the older batches, they realized the chemicals inside—specifically the liquid reagent and the gold-conjugated antibodies on the strip—stayed effective way longer than they initially thought.
The FDA extension: How it actually works
Basically, the FDA has been granting "shelf-life extensions" for the OHC COVID-19 Antigen Self Test. In September 2023, they gave a massive 18-to-24-month extension to dozens of specific lots.
Think about that.
A test that says it expired in late 2023 might actually be perfectly valid until late 2024 or even early 2025. It’s all about the lot number. The FDA doesn't just give a blanket "it's okay" to every test ever made. They look at the data from the manufacturer, Osang Healthcare Co., Ltd., and decide batch by batch.
If you have a box right now, find the lot number. It’s usually near the barcode or the expiration date. It looks like a string of letters and numbers, often starting with "SH" (for example, SHL2641-XL30-060AF). You then have to cross-reference this on the official FDA website. It's a bit of a scavenger hunt, but it saves you a trip to the pharmacy and $20.
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Why did they extend the ohc covid test expiration date anyway?
Stability testing takes time. You can’t prove a test works for two years until two years have actually passed. When OHC first hit the market, they might have only had data for 6 or 8 months of stability.
So they printed that on the box.
Later, the company kept testing those same batches at the 12-month mark, the 18-month mark, and eventually the 24-month mark. When the results showed the tests were still catching the virus just as well as they did on day one, the FDA authorized an extension. Honestly, it’s a pretty common practice for many diagnostic tools, but it feels weird to us because we’re used to milk and eggs where "expired" means "dangerous."
Real talk: Is an expired test dangerous?
No. It’s not going to give you a rash or explode. The real "danger" is a false negative.
If the liquid in the little dropper has evaporated or the antibodies on the test strip have degraded, the test might not be sensitive enough to pick up the virus. You’ll see one line (the control line) and think you’re in the clear. Meanwhile, you're actually walking around spreading the latest variant because the test was too "tired" to do its job.
How to tell if your OHC test is truly dead
Check the liquid first. If you open the little vial and it’s bone dry, or there’s barely a drop in there, toss it. The chemical reaction needs that buffer liquid to carry your sample across the strip.
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Look at the desiccant. That’s the little packet of silica beads inside the foil pouch. In the OHC kits, the instructions for use (IFU) often specify that the beads should be white and yellow. If they’ve turned green or another color, it means moisture got into the pouch. Moisture is the enemy. It ruins the test faster than time does.
- Step 1: Check the FDA lot list.
- Step 2: Inspect the buffer liquid for evaporation.
- Step 3: Look at the "Control" (C) line after you use it.
If that "C" line doesn't show up, the test is invalid. Period. It doesn't matter if the date on the box says it's good for another year—if the control line is missing, the test failed.
Understanding the "Lot Number" puzzle
People get confused here. They look for a new sticker on the box. You won't find one. Most of these extensions happened after the tests were already sitting in warehouses or in your medicine cabinet.
For instance, lot SHA0541-YA10-00 had a printed expiration in early 2024, but the FDA extension pushed it to January 2025. If you didn't know to check, you'd have thrown away a perfectly good medical device.
The OHC tests are specifically "antigen" tests. They look for proteins on the surface of the virus. While they are slightly less sensitive than the PCR tests you get at a doctor's office, they are still remarkably reliable for identifying when you are at your most contagious—provided they haven't actually degraded.
Practical steps to take right now
Stop what you're doing and grab any OHC boxes you have. Don't look at the date first; look for the Lot Number.
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Go to the FDA’s At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests page. Use the search bar on that page and type in "OSANG" or "OHC." Look for the link that says "Updated Expiration Dates." It’ll open a PDF or a secondary table.
If your lot number is on that list, find the "New Expiration Date" column. Write that new date on the box with a Sharpie so you don't have to do this whole dance again next time you feel a sniffle coming on.
If your lot number isn't there, or if the extended date has also passed, it’s time to say goodbye. You can usually just toss these in your regular household trash. There’s no need for a biohazard bin for an unused, expired kit, though some people prefer to drop them off at a pharmacy that handles chemical waste.
Don't risk your health—or your family's—on a test that is truly past its prime. If the FDA says it’s done, it’s done. Fresh tests are widely available again, and many insurance plans or local health departments still provide them for free or at a low cost.
Double-check your lot, verify the date, and if the test is truly expired, replace it with a fresh one before you actually need it. Having a reliable kit on hand is the only way to get a result you can actually trust.
Actionable Insight: Check your OHC test lot number against the FDA’s 2023-2024 extension list before testing. If the control line (C) fails to appear during use, the test is invalid regardless of the date, and you should seek a fresh kit immediately.