title: The Tzanck smear: can dermatologists accurately interpret it?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Tzanck preparation is a standard technique for the rapid diagnosis of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the ability of practicing dermatologists to interpret Tzanck preparations accurately.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermatologists at different levels of training interpreted a series of Tzanck preparations under test conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Second- and third-year residents had a pooled average for correct responses of 91%; dermatologists in practice less than 10 years, 84%; dermatologists in practice more than 10 years, 67%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermatologists are able to use the Tzanck preparation effectively for diagnosing herpetic infections. Second- and third-year residents who are most likely to be diagnosing blistering eruptions in immunosuppressed or otherwise critically ill patients are especially accurate interpreters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Silvers
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D013997:Time Factors