LEXINGTON, Ky. — Some health officials are reminding people as they receive their free at-home COVID-19 tests to bring them inside as quickly as possible. 

What You Need To Know

  • Health Officials talk about proper storage for at-home COVID tests

  • FDA says the tests may be affected if done in cold temperatures

  • FDA recommends the at-home tests to be performed in an environment between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit

  • Health professionals remind people to seek professional care if symptoms continue to get worse

The FDA says the test performance may be affected if they use the test while it is still cold. 

Jason Smith, Chief Medical officer at the University of Louisville Hospital, says at-home COVID-19 tests are an excellent screening tool for those with mild symptoms. 

“I remind people that you’re going to leave that in about five seconds, so while your eyes tearing up and the little Q-Tip is stuck in your nose, count to five,” Smith said.

Smith says at-home tests are a great start to identifying positive cases and a quick test that helped Woodford County Health Department, Cassie Prather identify COVID within her family. 

“When my daughter first became symptomatic two weeks ago, it was very convenient to be able to have the at-home test for her so that we could identify that she was positive,” Prather said. 

Prather says one thing people need to keep in mind with at-home tests is the proper storing conditions.

 “Without them being held at the proper storage temperatures, they’re no longer viable, no longer trustworthy. You can no longer use them for their intention,” Prather said. 

The FDA says the test performance may be affected if they use the test while it is still cold,

recommending the at home tests to be performed in an environment between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Make sure that you follow the storage temperature requirements and the instructions to a tee in order to get the most accurate results,” Prather said. 

The FDA says if they leave a test outside in freezing temperatures, to properly restore the test, you will need to bring the package inside, leaving it unopened at room temperature for a minimum of 2 hours before using. 

Related Stories