Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for concentrating and/or purifying prion PrPSc proteins by contacting prion PrPSc proteins with sepharose under conditions that allow for the specific and high affinity binding of the sepharose to the prion PrPSc proteins and removing the unbound non-prion proteins from the sepharose, as well as the same method for removing prion PrPSc proteins from body fluids by contacting body fluids with sepharose under conditions that allow for the specific and high affinity binding of the sepharose to the prion PrPSc proteins and removing the body fluid from said sepharose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing prion PrPSc proteins from biological material by contacting a biological material comprising prion PrPSc proteins with sepharose under conditions that allow for the specific and high affinity binding of the sepharose to the prion PrPSc proteins and removing the biological material from the sepharose wherein the biological material is selected from mammalian urine or a fraction thereof or from cell culture-derived materials. Another aspect of the present invention concerns the use of specific and high affinity sepharose for removing prion PrPSc proteins from biological material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of milk or a derivative thereof for identifying prion proteins, preferably PrPSc prion proteins, in a mammal. The present invention is also directed to a method for identifying prion proteins, preferably PrPSc prion proteins, in mammals, comprising the step of contacting milk or a derivative thereof with an agent having high affinity and selectivity for prion proteins, preferably for PrPSc prion proteins. In addition, a further aspect the present invention concerns a method for removing PrPC and/or PrPSc prion proteins, preferably PrPSc prion proteins, from milk or a milk derivative wherein milk or a derivative thereof is contacted with sepharose, preferably sepharose comprising divalent immobilized metal ions.