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Tzanck test How the Test is Performed:
The sore is scraped and the scraping is put on a slide and stained. The health care provider then examines it under a microscope.
How to Prepare:
Older children and adults:
No preparation is necessary.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How it Feels:
When the sore is scraped or rubbed, there may be mild discomfort.
Risks:
There are no risks with this test.
Why this Test is Performed:
The test may help diagnose or confirm an infection with 1 of these 2 viruses.
Normal Values:
No presence of herpes infected cells in the scraping is normal.
Abnormal Results:
The results are immediately available. If there are herpes infected cells present, then the patient has been infected with either: - herpes simplex (which causes cold sores, fever blister , or genital sores)
- varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox and
Cost:
The estimated cost is $50 - $90.
Special Considerations:
There is a high rate of false-negative result even when the virus is present.
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