Demonstration of Tzanck smear and its significance in dermatology

Abstract

Tzanck smear is a simple bedside technique that can play a crucial role in the diagnosis of various vesiculobullous, erosive, tumoral, and granulomatous cutaneous diseases. The procedure involves identifying an intact blister, deroofing it, scraping the erosion as well as the undersurface of the blister, transferring the material on a glass slide, staining the slide appropriately, and viewing under the microscope. The characteristic cells can be identified under the microscope that can aid the diagnosis.