Despite the post-epidemic period of COVID-19, systematic summary studies of SARS-CoV-2 are still important to cope with future outbreaks of new coronaviruses. In this paper, we reviewed many different methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus, including nucleic acid, antibody, and antigen detection. The RT-PCR is one kind of the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and has high specificity and sensitivity. The T-PCR technique also has some limitations due to its own basic principles, such as the possibility of false negatives or false positives. The article also discusses the importance of combining antigen and antibody detection with RT-PCR to complement RT-PCR in diagnosis. In addition, the article describes emerging detection technologies and the latest progress in SARS-CoV-2 detection. Overall, we provide a piece of comprehensive and valuable information for understanding SARS-CoV-2 detection methods, which is important for guiding public health practice and responding to possible new virus outbreaks.