diff --git a/tests/BackendTests.py b/tests/BackendTests.py
index edc43de..d0b3328 100644
--- a/tests/BackendTests.py
+++ b/tests/BackendTests.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
+import gzip
+import os.path
 import sys
 import unittest
 from datetime import datetime as ddatetime, datetime
 from pprint import pprint
 
-from web.run import retrieve_amda_netcdf, get_data_for_target, _sta_sto
+from netCDF4 import Dataset
+
+from web.run import retrieve_amda_netcdf, get_data_for_target, _sta_sto, _read_var
 
 FILE_DATE_FMT = "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"
 
@@ -55,7 +59,7 @@ class AmdaTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         stopped_at = ddatetime.strptime("2021-12-18 00:00:00", FILE_DATE_FMT)
         model = {'parameters': {'dens': 'Dens', 'temp': 'Temp', 'vtot': 'Vel'}, 'slug': 'ace_swepam_real_1h'}
         s0, s1 = _sta_sto(model, started_at, stopped_at)
-        all_data = get_data_for_target(target_config, 'om', s0, s1 )
+        all_data = get_data_for_target(target_config, 'om', s0, s1)
         self.assertEqual(1, len(all_data))
 
     def test_sta_sto(self):
@@ -68,3 +72,24 @@ class AmdaTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(s0, datetime)
         self.assertIsInstance(s1, datetime)
 
+    def test_read_nc(self):
+        SCRIPT_PATH = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+        PROJECT_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(SCRIPT_PATH, os.pardir))
+        print("PROJECT_DIR", PROJECT_DIR)
+        print("SCRIPT_PATH", SCRIPT_PATH)
+        # return
+        local_netc_file = os.path.join(PROJECT_DIR,'tests-resources', 'amda-irap-omp-eu-ddservice-base-data-omni-hour-omni202107010-nc')
+        cdf_handle = Dataset(local_netc_file, "r", format="NETCDF4")
+        default_nc_keys = {
+            'hee': 'HEE',
+            'vtot': 'V',
+            'magn': 'B',
+            'temp': 'T',
+            'dens': 'N',
+            'pdyn': 'P_dyn',
+            'atse': 'Delta_angle',
+        }
+        nc_keys = default_nc_keys.copy()
+        data_v = _read_var(cdf_handle, nc_keys, 'vtot')
+        pprint(data_v)
+        pprint(data_v[0])
--
libgit2 0.21.2