Updated Aug. 14, 2024

At-Home Testing

Here’s an overview of what to do if you test positive:

  1. Follow these steps to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others.
  2. If you are at high risk for complications from COVID-19, contact your health care provider right away or look for a test-to-treat clinic. It is important to start treatment as soon as possible.
  3. Tell anyone that you have been around, including friends, family and your workplace, that you have tested positive.

If you need assistance with isolation, such as food, personal care kits, or other needs, visit Care Connect Washington or call or text the program hotline at 1.833.453.0336.

For more information about self-testing, see this guide.


Test Expiration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only recommends using at-home COVID-19 tests within their authorized expiration dates because tests break down over time. Because of this, expired test kits could give invalid results.

COVID-19 tests have an expiration date on the package, but you don’t necessarily need to throw them away at that date. The FDA has issued new expiration dates for certain COVID-19 testing products. When using an at-home test that has passed its expiration date as shown on the package, make sure to check the FDA’s listing of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests to see if the product you are using has an extended expiration date.