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Medical Definition of Tzanck test
1. The examination of fluid from a bullous lesion for Tzanck cells (altered epithelial cells, rounded and devoid of intercellular attachments). The periphery of these cells is basophilic and the nucleus is spherical and enlarged with prominent nucleoli. They are characteristic of lesions due to varicella, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, and pemphigus vulgaris. (05 Mar 2000)