Tzanck test

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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 (multinucleated giant cells) are found in:

• Herpes simplex
• Varicella and herpes zoster
• Pemphigus vulgaris

It is named after Arnault Tzanck (1886-1954), a Russian dermatologist.

[edit] External links

• Tzanck test - medlineplus.org.
• Definition of Tzanck test - medterms.com.