Take-home test kits good for 10 months past expiry date: Strang

Some parents reported tests kits received from schools appeared to have already expired

CITYnews\ Meghan Groff

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The province’s chief medical officer of health is assuring families that take-home test kits sent home with students are still good to use.

This announcement comes after some parents reported they received tests that appeared to have already expired.

“We have now confirmed with Health Canada and the manufacturer that all of the tests are good for 10 months past the expiry date, which is on the package,” said Dr. Robert Strang at a Tuesday briefing.

“More details will be going out directly to the families that have received kits.”

Late last month the province announced it would be sending 80,000 rapid test kits home with students between pre-primary and Grade 6. At this point, most children in those grades are not yet eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Each kit contains four tests.

“If your child isn’t feeling well, even if they have one mild symptom, follow the instructions in the kit and use the take-home rapid test,” Strang urged. “This is one way that we can help keep COVID out of our schools.”

Three schools are currently closed in the Halifax area to stop the spread of the virus — Dartmouth South Academy, Joseph Howe Elementary and École Mer et Monde.

Students at a fourth school — Duc d’Anville Elementary — just returned to class Monday after that school was shut down last week.

The province announced 12 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, for a current total of 187 active cases.