Tzanck Test - Procedure

Procedure

1. Unroof vesicle and scrape base w/ sterile surgical blade
2. Smear onto clean glass slide
3. Fix w/ gentle heat or air dry
4. Fix w/ MeOH
5. Stain w/ Giemsa, methylene blue or Wright’s stain
6. Microscopic examination using oil immersion lens. (Look for multinucleate giant cells)