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

The vital staining method using prestained slides permits satisfactory characterization and differentiation of benign and malignant cells present in CSF using 10 and 20 mul of CSF. In comparison the sedimentation technique of Sayk and the cytocentrifuge with subsequent Pappenheim staining require larger volumes of CSF. They have the disadvantage of possible loss of cells and of cell denaturation.