When the COVID-19 pandemic began, reliably detecting the virus could be a challenge. But over the last two years, COVID-19 tests have become more widely available, and the variety of testing methods has grown significantly. With all the options out there now, though, it can sometimes be hard to know which type of test is right for you.

Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Virology Laboratory, and the team at Mayo Clinic Laboratories put together the following guide to help you sort through the options. It breaks down the different types of COVID-19 tests, describing what they are, when you should use them, and what you can expect from the results.