diff --git a/src/dagmc_geometry_slice_plotter/utils.py b/src/dagmc_geometry_slice_plotter/utils.py
index 62976f9..1f39453 100644
--- a/src/dagmc_geometry_slice_plotter/utils.py
+++ b/src/dagmc_geometry_slice_plotter/utils.py
@@ -37,21 +37,33 @@ def plot_axis_slice(
     if view_direction == "-z":
         plane_normal = [0, 0, -1]
         rotate_plot = 0
+        x_label = "X [cm]"
+        y_label = "Y [cm]"
     if view_direction == "z":
         plane_normal = [0, 0, 1]
         rotate_plot = 0
+        x_label = "X [cm]"
+        y_label = "Y [cm]"
     if view_direction == "-y":
         plane_normal = [0, -1, 0]
         rotate_plot = 90
+        x_label = "X [cm]"
+        y_label = "Z [cm]"
     if view_direction == "y":
         plane_normal = [0, 1, 0]
         rotate_plot = 90
+        x_label = "X [cm]"
+        y_label = "Z [cm]"
     if view_direction == "-x":
         plane_normal = [-1, 0, 0]
         rotate_plot = -90
+        x_label = "Y [cm]"
+        y_label = "Z [cm]"
     if view_direction == "x":
         plane_normal = [1, 0, 0]
         rotate_plot = 90
+        x_label = "Y [cm]"
+        y_label = "Z [cm]"
 
     slice = plot_slice(
         dagmc_file_or_trimesh_object=dagmc_file_or_trimesh_object,
@@ -60,6 +72,9 @@ def plot_axis_slice(
         rotate_plot=rotate_plot,
     )
 
+    slice.xlabel(x_label)
+    slice.ylabel(y_label)
+
     return slice
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_plot_axis_slice.py b/tests/test_plot_axis_slice.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ce24ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_plot_axis_slice.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import os
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+import trimesh
+
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+from dagmc_geometry_slice_plotter import plot_axis_slice
+
+
+class TestPlotSliceOfTrimeshObject(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Tests the neutronics utilities functionality and use cases"""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+
+        h5m_filename_smaller = "tests/dagmc.h5m"
+
+        self.trimesh_mesh_object_smaller = trimesh.load_mesh(
+            h5m_filename_smaller, process=False
+        )
+
+    def test_create_default_plot(self):
+        """Tests returned object is a matplotlib plot"""
+
+        plot = plot_axis_slice(
+            view_direction="x",
+            dagmc_file_or_trimesh_object=self.trimesh_mesh_object_smaller,
+        )
+
+        assert isinstance(plot, type(plt))
+
+    def test_create_default_plot_file(self):
+        """Tests output file creation"""
+
+        os.system("rm test_plot.png")
+
+        plot = plot_axis_slice(
+            view_direction="y",
+            dagmc_file_or_trimesh_object=self.trimesh_mesh_object_smaller,
+        )
+        plot.savefig("test_plot.png")
+
+        assert Path("test_plot.png").is_file()