Diagnosis

Your health care provider will generally be able to diagnose chickenpox easily because of its characteristic rash. If there is any doubt, however, the doctor may take a scarping from one of your skin lesions to look at under the microscope. This is called a Tzanck test.

Similarly, if you have shingles, it is rare that your provider needs to perform any tests because the history of pain and other symptoms and the rash itself are very typical. If the doctor is not certain, however, a Tzanck test may be performed or some blood tests.