The Malheur County Health Department has many free, at-home COVID-19 rapid tests available for pick up at our clinic during business hours. Call us at 541-889-7279 or walk in to 1108 SW 4th St, Ontario, Oregon. While you’re here, start Health is Wealth and get $100 to Albertsons once you complete the program!
The FDA has released new information this month on At-Home Over the Counter (OTC) COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests. At-home rapid COVID-19 tests are authorized for self-testing. This means you collect your own sample, perform the test, and read the result yourself without the need to send a sample to a lab.
To see if the expiration date for your at-home COVID-19 test has been extended, refer to this table, find the row that matches the manufacturer and test name shown on the box label of your test.
- If the Expiration Date column says that the shelf-life is “extended,” there is a link to “updated expiration dates” where you can find a list of the original expiration dates and the new expiration dates. Find the original expiration date on the box label of your test and then look for the new expiration date in the “updated expiration dates” table for your test.
- If the Expiration Date column does not say the shelf-life is extended, that means the expiration date on the box label of your test is still correct. The table will say “See box label” instead of having a link to updated expiration dates.
Although case rates and serious illness have decreased in Malheur County and across the region, the virus is still in the area with cases identified each week. Thirteen cases were reported last week, with a test positivity of 13.2%. These tests are only those reported from healthcare providers and laboratories, who are testing people who may be sick or exposed. Find more about county case counts, deaths, and test positivity here.
Find the FDA table for the list of approved COVID-19 rapid home tests and their expiration extensions here.
If you test positive, it is not necessary for you to report your positive test result to the Malheur County Health Department or the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Whether or not you have symptoms, stay home and separate from others for five days. Continue to isolate from others until you have been fever free for 24 hours and other symptoms are improving. Wear a mask around others for an additional five days. If you have questions or need help, Call 211 or 1-866-698-6155 or visit 211info.org. Learn more about what to do if you test positive from the OHA here.
Related Information:
- Understanding At-Home OTC COVID-19 Antigen Diagnostic Test Results
- At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions
- COVID-19 Test Basics: Includes details on COVID-19 tests, types of samples, and other information.
- At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Tests-Take Steps to Reduce Your Risk of False Negative: FDA Safety Communication
- Counterfeit At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests
- Find COVID-19 Tests at COVID.gov/tests
- Video: How to Interpret Self-Test Results | CDC
- COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know | CDC
- COVID-19 Self-Testing At-Home or Anywhere | CDC
- What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19 | CDC
- Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 | CDC
Malheur County Health Department 