The two standard types of tests for COVID-19 are nucleic acid-based tests and antibody tests. Nucleic acid-based tests, also known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests or molecular tests, are performed through nasopharyngeal swabs. These swabs take nasal secretions from the nose and the back of the throat to scan for the COVID-19 pathogen in the individual’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). While nucleic acid-based tests are the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 in individuals because they detect the actual virus, they do take some time to analyze. Antibody tests, or serology tests, do not identify the actual virus, but rather, they detect antibodies that your immune system develops in response to the infection. These antibodies are found in your blood. As such, antibody tests consist of drawing a small amount of blood from your arm to analyze it for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. With this in mind, antibody tests are beneficial for asymptomatic individuals who would like to know if they have had the virus but have since recovered and have developed a relative immunity to COVID-19. Serological tests can be useful for individuals looking to return to work or travel. They can also provide crucial data for researchers determining the relative immunity or vulnerability of a given region to COVID-19. Besides nucleic acid-based tests and antibody tests, there are also rapid antigen tests increasing in popularity but require more research as to their effectiveness and reliability.