Expired Drugs and COVID-19 Test Kits

Dear S.Q. I have expired drugs and COVID-19 tests. Seems a shame to throw them out unless they are truly useless. Suggestions?

Dearie, COVID-19 test kits can be used if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended their expiration dates. Match the brand name, manufacturer, and lot # printed on your test kit box to the FDA  At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests List to see if your test's shelf life has been extended.

But, if your test is not on the list, then it is expired, expired, expired and most likely not reliable. However, if you use the dead test kit, and it shows positive and you have symptoms, you probably do have COVID and should hustle to the doctor. If the outdated test shows negative, don't count of it, -the chances are it's an unreliable test. Take two outdated tests if you want, but remember, 👉 one positive test and symptoms is probably true; any outdated negative test is not necessarily true. 

Taking expired drugs are a different concern. They may kill you, especially if liquid (because of bacteria). The FDA Guidelines on Drug Disposal has 3 ways to dispose: 1) Take-Back Programs (drop boxes; and April and October DEA hosted programs. 2) Household Trash (scratch out personal info on the bottles). 3) FDA Flush List -check here before flushing meds into water systems. 

Drugs and test kits are like fireworks. They're only great when they do what they're supposed to do. Otherwise, they can be duds or dangerous. -SQ