Abstract: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis played an important role in preventing the epidemic spreading of COVID-19. On the basis of obtaining the complete virus genome sequence, China developed a detection method based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 such as immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin A could be detected in most patients, which lay a theoretical foundation for the research and development of serological detection technology. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) is the main detection method for SARS-CoV-2, which has the advantages of high specificity and reliable detection results, but it has high requirements for equipment and operators. This study reviewed the research progress of SARS-CoV-2 detection methods in order to provide reference for clinicians and researchers.