BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) is giving an inside look at how they test COVID-19.

In a video released by the department on social media, NDDoH Director of Microbiology Dr. Christie Massen walks through the steps of how they test. She says they have a statewide courier system that brings the tests to them from across the state.

The samples are then placed into extraction plates for the extraction process. They’re placed in a machine that extracts the RNA from the specimens. Dr. Massen says through a process of replication, they’re able to detect if the virus is present.

Once it’s amplified, Dr. Massen says their instruments will read it and they’ll be able to detect if the test is negative or positive.

Governor Doug Burgum recognized the state lab Sunday as they continue to work with a staff of 10. He commended them for their dedication and long hours of testing while the global pandemic continues to spread.

You can watch the testing process in the video below. All information is courtesy of the North Dakota Department of Health.