We can be grateful places like Hopkins will evaluate samples.
A agree, glenntaj, it's a "tragedy" when neurologists, themselves do not know the importance of the use of the skin punch biopsy.

In the Greater Boston area, fibro was being researched, was "known" (as well as it could be known at that time), and was not rare at all in the "mid-1980's. Harvard and area physicians (of all specialties were aware of the Fibro. research and any avail. info then). This was also likely true in other medical center/research facilities. I knew lots of people with fibro diagnoses, made by fibro researchers, in the mid-80's. Many.

Glanntaj mentions the skin punch biopsy having been avail. approx. 25 years ago.
This is in line with the point I was trying to make earlier.
Fibro researchers were on the research approx. 25 years ago...and saying it is "neurological" to those of us in studies. The skin punch biopsy was also avail. (in some research areas) at approx the same time. It took them an awfully long time to get the two together. (Some of the same centers doing the earlier fibro research also likely has access to the biopsy technology.)

The TEN microscopes, too, are of great importance, as Dany points out!

The politics involved in research, in discoveries, in just which person/people will get the credit is also a factor often mucking up the timelines.

We can celebrate the word is out now and hopefully, this will help settle more of the distinctions between various conditions... in order to better help those suffering?

Here's to holding hope!
~DejaVu