[CSF cytology using prestained slides (author's transl)].

A new and rapid vital-stain method for the diagnosis of CSF cells demonstrates not only red blood cells but also white blood cell types, predominantly by differentiating nuclear patterns. 20 microliter untreated CSF are put on the prestained slides and a cover slip put over it. Differentiation can be made after 15 minutes. The lower limit is at 3-4 WBC/ml of CSF. At room temperature the preparation keeps for about an hour. The method is reproducible and has the advantage also over other routine methods that the CSF volume is very small and there is neither loss of cells nor cell denaturation.