universe84a

Introduction of Tzanck smear

The method is named after Arnault Tzanck  (1886–1954), a French dermatologist. The Tzanck smear or test, is scraping of an ulcer base to observe for Tzanck cells. It is also called the chickenpox skin test and the herpes skin test.

Multinucleated giant cells i.e  Tzanck cells are found in–

1. Herpes simplex
2. Varicella and herpes zoster
3. Pemphigus vulgaris
4. Cytomegalovirus

Requirements for Tzanck smear

To perform the Tzanck test following will be the requirements-

• Clean and grease-free glass slide
• Scalpel blade
• Methanol
• Giemsa stain
• Microscope
• Cedarwood oil

Procedure of Tzanck smear

1. Unroof the vesicle and scrape base w/ sterile No 15 scalpel blade.
2. After that perform a smear onto a glass slide.
3. After completion of those steps do air drying and fix with methanol.
4. Use Giemsa as a  stain and finally observe microscopically using oil immersion lens looking for multinucleate giant cells.

Observation of Tzanck smear

Observe multinucleate giant cells under oil immersion fields (OIF) of the microscope.

Result and interpretation of Tzanck smear

1. Tzanck test negative: Absence of multinucleated giant cells
2. Tzanck test positive: Presence of multinucleated giant cells
3. The performed Tzanck test is positive because of having multinucleate giant cells as shown in the above image.

Bibliography

1. Fields Virology Vol I & II, Editor in Chief: David M. Knipe & Peter M. Howley,  Asso editors: Diane E. Griffin, Robert A. Lamb, Malcolm A. Martin, Bernard Roizman & Stephen E. straus, 5th ed 2007, Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Wolters Kluwer Health, USA.
2. Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology. Editors: Bettey A. Forbes, Daniel F. Sahm & Alice S. Weissfeld, 12th ed 2007, Publisher Elsevier.
3. Mackie and Mc Cartney Practical Medical Microbiology. Editors: J.G. Colle, A.G. Fraser, B.P. Marmion, A. Simmous, 4th ed, Publisher Churchill Living Stone, New York, Melborne, Sans Franscisco 1996.
4. Topley & Wilsons Principle of Virology  Editors: M.T. Parker & L.H. Collier, 8th ed 1990, Publisher Edward Arnold publication, London.