Pregnancy Test Expiry Date: Do They Expire, and How Long Do They Last?

Is there really a Pregnancy Test Expiry Date?

Yes, pregnancy tests expire, usually 1 to 3 years after they are made. The expiry date is printed on the box and on each test’s foil wrapper, and sometimes on the stick itself. After that date, the test becomes unreliable, so it is worth a quick check before you use one.

Like a lot of things in your bathroom cupboard. A pregnancy test works by using tiny antibodies to grab the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine, which triggers the line or the “Pregnant” reading. Those antibodies and the other chemicals slowly break down over time. Once they degrade, the test can no longer reliably detect hCG, so the result you get past the date cannot be trusted.

When companies manufacture pregnancy tests, like us, we have to test the tests to give an expiry date. After that date, they basically haven’t been shown in tests to perform reliably, so they are considered expired. That is not to say they won’t work, but more than they won’t necessarily give you the correct result.

How long do pregnancy tests last?

Most tests are good for about 2 to 3 years from the date they were manufactured (the range across brands is roughly 1 to 3 years). It is not identical for everyone: premium tests often last longer, while cheaper strips can have a shorter life, and a low-quality one can occasionally fail even before its printed date.

Where to find the Expiry Date

The Pregnancy test expiry date is on all tests. Have a look in these spots to find it
★ The box, usually printed on the bottom.
★ The foil wrapper that each test comes in. This is handy because even if you find a stray test with no box, the wrapper still tells you when it expires.
★ Sometimes stamped on the test device itself.

Look for “EXP” or “Use by” followed by a date.

Storage matters more than you think

Heat and humidity speed up that chemical breakdown, which means the steamy bathroom is honestly the worst place to keep a test, even though it is where most of us stash them. Store tests somewhere cool and dry, like a bedroom drawer or a linen cupboard, and do not unwrap a test until you are actually ready to use it. Most tests say store at room temperature up to 30 degrees celcius, and not below 4 degrees celcius, so try and stick to this if you can, as bad storage can spoil your test even before the printed date.

A quick buying tip

Check the date on the box in the shop, not just at home. Give yourself several months of leeway so your spare does not quietly expire in the drawer before you need it. If you are buying online you can always ask what the expiry date is on the tests so that you don’t get any surprises. We list it on the product page so that you can see.