Rapid antigen coronavirus tests are much better for everyday use than PCR tests, according to Dr. Michael Mina, who told Jim Braude on Greater Boston that rapid tests are ideal for detecting whether a person has COVID-19 and is likely to pass it on to others.

"A PCR test can stay positive for weeks after somebody is no longer infectious, and an antigen test is very specific, meaning it will only turn positive when you are currently infectious and a potential risk to the people around you," said Mina, chief science officer at eMed.

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Mina said PCR tests are very sensitive, and are typically more useful for physicians who are trying to gather every shred of information to find out if a patient is currently infected with the coronavirus, or was recently infected.

He also said rapid tests are performing well at detecting the omicron variant, however, there is a short time soon after infection during which the neither a rapid nor a PCR test will detect the variant, according to Mina. That's because omicron will not be present in a person's nose that early in infection.

Testing is also crucial in knowing when it is safe to leave isolation after being infected with the coronavirus. Mina said, "I think test out of isolation is one of the best approaches and one of the best and most effective ways to use these tests currently."

WATCH: Dr. Michael Mina shares how rapid tests can combat the pandemic