effects of styletin versus styletout collection of cerebrospinal fluid from the cisterna magna on contamination of samples sample quality and collection time objective to evaluate safety of styletin and styletout techniques for collection of csf from the cisterna magna and to assess whether there were differences between techniques with regard to contamination of samples sample quality and efficiency of collectionanimals 10 adult purposebred research beaglesprocedures a prospective crossover study was conducted preanesthetic physical and neurologic examinations and hematologic analyses were performed dogs were anesthetized and collection of csf samples from the cisterna magna by use of a styletin or styletout technique was performed two weeks later samples were collected with the other sample collection technique samples of csf were processed within 1 hour after collectionresults cellular debris was detected in higher numbers in styletin samples although this did not affect sample quality the styletout technique was performed more rapidly no adverse effects were detected for either techniqueconclusions and clinical relevance both techniques could be safely performed in healthy anesthetized dogs the styletout technique was performed more rapidly and yielded a sample with less cellular debris both techniques can be used in clinical practice to yield csf samples with good diagnostic quality