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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.
Tzanck cells (acantholytic 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
Video Tzanck test
Procedure
- Unroof vesicle and scrape base w/ sterile No15 scalpel blade
- Smear onto clean glass slide
- Fix w/ gentle heat or air dry
- Fix w/ MeOH (Methanol)
- Stain w/ Giemsa, methylene blue or Wright's stain
- 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.
Maps Tzanck test
Eponym
It is named after Arnault Tzanck (1886-1954), a French dermatologist.
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References
src: pedsinreview.aappublications.org
External links
- Tzanck test - medlineplus.org.
- Definition of Tzanck test - medterms.com.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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