diff --git a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_database.py b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_database.py
index 5a24ce123..0cdd7fa4a 100644
--- a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_database.py
+++ b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_database.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 """Unit tests for rvdss/database.py."""
 
-# standard library
-import unittest
+import pytest
 
 # py3tester coverage target
 __test_target__ = "delphi.epidata.acquisition.rvdss.database"
 
 
-class FunctionTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    """Tests each function individually."""
+class TestDatabase():
 
     def test_syntax(self):
         """This no-op test ensures that syntax is valid."""
diff --git a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_pull_historic.py b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_pull_historic.py
index 7eb56b17e..22c54f821 100644
--- a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_pull_historic.py
+++ b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_pull_historic.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 """Unit tests for rvdss/pull_historic.py."""
 
-# standard library
-import unittest
+import pytest
 
 # py3tester coverage target
 __test_target__ = "delphi.epidata.acquisition.rvdss.pull_historic"
 
 
-class FunctionTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    """Tests each function individually."""
+class TestPullHistoric():
 
     def test_syntax(self):
         """This no-op test ensures that syntax is valid."""
diff --git a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_run.py b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_run.py
index 4578692f2..f132a8c94 100644
--- a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_run.py
+++ b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_run.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 """Unit tests for rvdss/run.py."""
 
-# standard library
-import unittest
+import pytest
 
 # py3tester coverage target
 __test_target__ = "delphi.epidata.acquisition.rvdss.run"
 
 
-class FunctionTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    """Tests each function individually."""
+class TestRun():
 
     def test_syntax(self):
         """This no-op test ensures that syntax is valid."""
diff --git a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_utils.py b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_utils.py
index 8077d099c..95f26d1b8 100644
--- a/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/acquisition/rvdss/test_utils.py
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 """Unit tests for rvdss/utils.py."""
 
-# standard library
-import unittest
+import pytest
+
+from delphi.epidata.acquisition.rvdss.utils import abbreviate_virus
 
 # py3tester coverage target
 __test_target__ = "delphi.epidata.acquisition.rvdss.utils"
 
 
-class FunctionTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    """Tests each function individually."""
-
+class TestUtils:
     def test_syntax(self):
         """This no-op test ensures that syntax is valid."""
         pass
+
+    def test_abbreviate_virus(self):
+    	assert abbreviate_virus("influenza") == "flu" # normal case
+    	assert abbreviate_virus("flu") == "flu" # already abbreviated