The World Health Organization recommends a comprehensive testing strategy during the current COVID-19 pandemic. For suspected individuals in a community setup, it is recommended to collect an upper respiratory tract specimen to detect SARS-CoV-2. Different upper respiratory specimen collection techniques or a combination of these can be used to increase test sensitivity or decrease patient discomfort depending on the purpose as summarised in this review. However, it is essential that the specimen collection is performed correctly in order to ensure the diagnostic accuracy of testing.