Toy Bridgman asked about Tzanck preparations.

It's neither a stain nor a preparation, it's an obscure ritual that's in 
internists' handy-dandy little books (the ones with the spiral bindings that 
fit into the sagging pocket of a long white coat, back of the stethoscope of 
the year) about how to harass the laboratory.

This is a cytologic procedure, and should be done in a cytopathology lab. 
Smears should be fixed in alcohol for Pap staining, or air dried for 
polychrome (Diff-Quik). The detailed procedures on how to collect the 
specimen are worth everyone's filing away for future reference.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN