diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 91d92b5..22e0688 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -69,3 +69,6 @@ target/
 *~
 *.swp
 *.swo
+
+# Project ignores
+tests/testoutput
diff --git a/tests/common_robot.txt b/tests/common_robot.txt
index 77a3e60..39459be 100644
--- a/tests/common_robot.txt
+++ b/tests/common_robot.txt
@@ -32,3 +32,26 @@ Directory Should Have Items
     [Arguments]    ${path}    @{expected}
     ${items} =    List Directory    ${path}
     Lists Should Be Equal    ${items}    ${expected}
+
+Run JIP Tool And Return RC And Output
+    [Arguments]       ${cmdline}    ${expected_rc}=0    ${jipdb}=${TESTOUTPUTDIR}/jip.db    ${log_to_console}=True
+    ${result} =       Run Process    ${cmdline}    shell=True    stderr=STDOUT    env:JIP_DB=${jipdb}
+    Run Keyword If    ${log_to_console}    Log To Console    ${result.stdout}
+    Should Be Equal As Integers     ${result.rc}                       ${expected_rc} 
+    [return]    ${result.rc}    ${result.stdout}
+
+Ensure Tool Accepts Stdin And Outputs Stdout
+    [Arguments]    ${tool_and_options}    ${input_contents}    ${expected_contents}
+    ${in_fastq} =                   Set Variable                ${TESTOUTPUTDIR}/input.fastq
+    ${out_fastq} =                  Set Variable                ${TESTOUTPUTDIR}/output.fastq
+    Create File                     ${in_fastq}                 ${input_contents}
+    ${rc}    ${stdout} =            Run Jip Tool And Return RC And Output    cat ${in_fastq} | ${tool_and_options} | cat > ${out_fastq}
+    Log To Console                  ${stdout}
+    Should Be Equal As Integers     ${rc}                0 
+    Verify File                     ${out_fastq}                ${expected_contents}
+
+Normalized Input And Output Usage Statement
+    [Arguments]    ${tool}
+    ${rc}    ${stdout} =            Run JIP Tool And Return RC And Output    ${tool} --help    expected_rc=1
+    Should Contain                  ${stdout}    [<input>] [-p]
+    Should Contain                  ${stdout}    [<input>]
diff --git a/tests/trim_reads.robot b/tests/trim_reads.robot
index e6dc9bc..2bf32de 100644
--- a/tests/trim_reads.robot
+++ b/tests/trim_reads.robot
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ ${fastq_content}             @trimid\nNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN\n+\n5555555
 ${interleave_content}        ${fastq_content}\n${fastq_content}
 ${in_fastq} =                ${TESTOUTPUTDIR}/trim_me.fastq
 ${testout} =                 ${TESTOUTPUTDIR}/output
-${trimmed_fq} =              @trimid\nAAAAAAAAAA\n+\nIIIIIIIIII
-${out_fastq} =               ${trimmed_fq}\n${trimmed_fq}\n
+${trimmed_fq} =              @trimid\nAAAAAAAAAA\n+\nIIIIIIIIII\n
+${out_fastq} =               ${trimmed_fq}${trimmed_fq}
 ${tool} =                    ${jip_path}/trim_reads.jip
 ${jipdb} =                   ${TESTOUTPUTDIR}/jip.db
 
@@ -23,41 +23,31 @@ ${jipdb} =                   ${TESTOUTPUTDIR}/jip.db
 # Normal execution
 trim_reads paired trims Ns
     Create File                     ${in_fastq}                 ${interleave_content}
-    ${result} =    Run Process      ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -t     shell=True    stderr=STDOUT    env:JIP_DB=${jipdb}
-    Log To Console                  ${result.stdout}
-    Should Contain                  ${result.stdout}             --trim-n is not supported at this time
-    #Should Be Equal As Integers     ${result.rc}                0 
-    #Verify File                     ${testout}.fastq            ${out_fastq}
+    ${rc}    ${stdout} =            Run JIP Tool And Return RC And Output    ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -t    expected_rc=1
+    Should Contain                  ${stdout}             --trim-n is not supported at this time
 
 trim_reads paired trims low quality
     Create File                     ${in_fastq}                 ${interleave_content}
-    ${result} =    Run Process      ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -q 25 30    shell=True    stderr=STDOUT    env:JIP_DB=${jipdb}
-    Log To Console                  ${result.stdout}
-    Should Be Equal As Integers     ${result.rc}                0 
+    ${rc}    ${stdout} =            Run JIP Tool And Return RC And Output    ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -q 25 30
     Verify File                     ${testout}.fastq            ${out_fastq}
 
 trim_reads paired removes bases
     Create File                     ${in_fastq}                 ${interleave_content}
-    ${result} =    Run Process      ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -x 10 -10    shell=True    stderr=STDOUT    env:JIP_DB=${jipdb}
-    Log To Console                  ${result.stdout}
-    Should Be Equal As Integers     ${result.rc}                0 
+    ${rc}    ${stdout} =            Run JIP Tool And Return RC And Output    ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -x 10 -10
     Verify File                     ${testout}.fastq            ${out_fastq}
 
-trim_reads paired accepts interleave input
-    Create File                     ${in_fastq}                 ${interleave_content}
-    ${result} =    Run Process      ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -x 10 -10    shell=True    stderr=STDOUT    env:JIP_DB=${jipdb}
-    Log To Console                  ${result.stdout}
-    Should Be Equal As Integers     ${result.rc}                0 
-    Verify File                     ${testout}.fastq            ${out_fastq}
+trim_reads paired accepts unpaired input
+    Create File                     ${in_fastq}                 ${fastq_content}
+    ${rc}    ${stdout} =            Run JIP Tool And Return RC And Output    ${tool} ${in_fastq} -p -o ${testout}.fastq -x 10 -10
+    Verify File                     ${testout}.fastq            ${trimmed_fq}
 
 trim_reads handles stdin/stdout pipe
-    Create File                     ${in_fastq}                 ${interleave_content}
-    ${result} =    Run Process      cat ${in_fastq} | ${tool} -x 10 -10 | cat > ${testout}.fastq  shell=True    stderr=STDOUT    env:JIP_DB=${jipdb}
-    Log To Console                  ${result.stdout}
-    Should Be Equal As Integers     ${result.rc}                0 
-    Verify File                     ${testout}.fastq            ${out_fastq}
-
+    Ensure Tool Accepts Stdin And Outputs Stdout    ${tool} -x 10 -10    ${interleave_content}    ${out_fastq}
 # End Normal execution
 
+# Ensure normalized usage statements
+trim_reads supports input and output
+    Normalized input And Output Usage Statement    ${tool}
+
 # Expected failures
 # End Expected failures