Abstract: Methods for the detection of the disease associated conformation of the prion protein as an indication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), including preclinical detection of infected live animals and humans, and post-mortem detection methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the tissue or body fluid sample of a test subject is contacted with an antibody that binds only the disease related conformation of the prion protein under non-denaturing conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing samples containing prion protein for the possible presence of the PrPSc form, according to which: (Step a) the sample is mixed with protease in order to digest protease-sensitive proteins or protein regions; (Step b) after digestion, it is tested whether the sample contains the region PrP 27-30 of the prion protein, which is resistant in the PrPSc form of the prion protein protease, and the presence of PrPSc in the sample is established based on the positive detection of PrP 27-30. The inventive method is characterized in that, during Step b, the sample is additionally tested in order to determine whether a complete digestion of the protease-sensitive region of the prion protein has occurred.