Write the following list of characters into a correctly formed sentence: Whilecurrentlytheremaybenosinglespecificlaboratorytestthatsaysunequivocally“thisisatopicdermatitis,”askinbiopsy(asampleofasmallpieceofskinthatissenttothelabforexaminationunderthemicroscope)maybehelpfultoestablishthediagnosisinhardercases.Additionally,gentleskinswabs(longcottontipapplicatororQ-tip)samplesmaybesenttothelabtoexcludeinfectionsoftheskinwhichmaymimicatopicdermatitis.
While currently there may be no single specific laboratory test that says unequivocally “this is atopic dermatitis,” a skin biopsy (a sample of a small piece of skin that is sent to the lab for examination under the microscope) may be helpful to establish the diagnosis in harder cases. Additionally, gentle skin swabs (long cotton tip applicator or Q-tip) samples may be sent to the lab to exclude infections of the skin which may mimic atopic dermatitis.