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Tzanck Smear
Aka: Tzanck Smear, Tzanck Preparation
- Indication
- Confirms Viral Infection (does not identify virus type)
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
- Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)
- Obtaining specimen
- Gently rupture fresh Vesicle with #15 scalpel blade
- Gently scrape mushy debris from Vesicle base
- Use curved belly of blade
- Do NOT use cotton swab
- Smear debris onto microscope slide
- Sample 3-4 Vesicles if possible
- Preparing Specimen
- Gently heat slide over match
- Heat for 10 seconds until warm
- Fixes tissue to slide
- Place drops of stain
- Giemsa stain
- Pap stain
- Wright's stain
- Allow stain to sit on slide for over 1 minute
- Rinse off stain under gently Running water
- Put on a drop of immersion oil or Mineral Oil
- Apply cover slip
- Examination of specimen
- Examine under 10x power
- Scan for smear bands
- Background of lightly stained debris
- Look for darkly stained cells
- Examine cells under 43x power
- Positive Test: Multinucleated Giant Cells
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
- Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)