Figure 2. Diagnosis of Herpes Zoster.

Cells are scraped from the base of cutaneous lesions and smeared on a glass slide for microscopy. Panel A shows a positive Tzanck smear (x400). Wright's stain demonstrates multinucleated giant cells. (Photograph courtesy of Henry Skelton, M.D.) Panel B shows a positive direct immunofluorescence assay (x400). Cells are stained with fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies against varicella–zoster virus; green fluorescence indicates the presence of varicella–zoster virus antigens.