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Tzanck test

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Tzanck test

In dermatopathology, the Tzanck test, also Tzanck smear, is scraping of an ulcer base to look for Tzanck cells. It is sometimes also called the chickenpox skin test and the herpes skin test.

Contents

Tzanck cells (multinucleated giant cells) are found in:

  • Herpes simplex
  • Varicella and herpes zoster
  • Pemphigus vulgaris
  • Cytomegalovirus

    • The Tzanck test has been largely replaced by DFA for identification of the herpes virus

    Procedure

    1. Unroof vesicle and scrape base w/ sterile №15 scalpel blade
    2. Smear onto clean glass slide
    3. Fix w/ gentle heat or air dry
    4. Fix w/ MeOH (Methanol)
    5. Stain w/ Giemsa, methylene blue or Wright’s stain
    6. Microscopic examination using oil immersion lens. (Look for multinucleate giant cells)

    A modified test can be performed using proprietary agents which requires fewer steps and allows the sample to be fixed quicker.

    Eponym

    It is named after Arnault Tzanck (1886–1954), a French dermatologist.

    References

    Tzanck test Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA