Abstract: The am of the invention is to create a method for detecting pathological prions which is highly sensitive, can be carried out quickly and at a low cost, and allows prions to be detected at an early stage of a disease. Said aim is achieved by the fact that immobilized capture antibodies bind the pathological and non-pathological form of the prion protein contained in a sample whereupon the bound non-pathological form is specifically divided by means of plasmin. The undivided, pathological form of the prion protein, which is bound by the immobilized capture antibodies, can then be easily detected with the aid of detection antibodies. The inventive method is used for detecting pathological prions.