FDA extends shelf life of nearly 1 million expired COVID-19 test kits in Florida, governor says

COVID-19 testing centers throughout Florida — which have been dealing with crushing demand over the last few weeks — may have just caught a big break.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced that up to 1 million coronavirus rapid test kits which had expired in December can actually be used.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration extended the expiration date for three months on a warehouse full of between 800,000 and 1 million Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW COVID-19 test kits, pushing their shelf life to March.

The tests, which had expired between Dec. 26 and 30, will now be sent to emergency management offices, county health departments, public safety agencies, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

DeSantis added the rapid COVID-19 test kits are not at-home tests and cannot be sent to Floridians directly. Only trained medical professionals can administer them at testing sites.

New Hampshire residents wait for days for results of COVID-19 tests

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —

Some New Hampshire residents are waiting a week or more for COVID-19 test results from state-run sites.

Between the omicron variant, holiday exposures and requirements for returning to work and school, testing demand has doubled in recent weeks. The increase in demand is creating a backlog at many labs that process the tests.

Kathy Foytho said she and her sister got tested together at the state-run site in Nashua on Dec. 31. She said they were told to call after 72 hours if they hadn't received results.

"The people on the phone were very nice, no point in getting upset with them," she said. "They did end up telling me that was the norm right now, that long wait."

She said her sister needed results to return to work.

"Six days for myself, eight days for my sister," she said.

A student who tested at the site in Newington last week said he needs results to return to college out of state. He canceled his Sunday flight and is still waiting.