A method for separating recombinant AAV8 (rAAV8) viral particles containing DNA comprising pharmacologically active genomic sequences from genome-deficient (empty) AAV8 capsid intermediates, said method comprising: (a) separating rAAV8 viral particles and AAV8 capsid intermediates from non-AAV contaminants obtained from an AAV producer cell culture which comprises an expression cassette encoding an AAV8 capsid protein operably linked to expression control sequences which direct expression thereof in the producer cell, and an expression cassette comprising sequences for packaging in the AAV8 capsid, and an expression cassette comprising helper viruses necessary for production and packaging of the AAV8 capsid into the viral particle, wherein the separation is performed by a high performance affinity resin having an antibody for AAV8 to afford a purified materials of (a); (b) forming a loading suspension comprising: a suspension which comprises (i) materials of step (a) purified by the high performance affinity resin; and (ii) a first buffer comprising 20 mM Bis-Tris propane and a pH of in the range 10.0 to 10.4 or a pH of 10.2; (c) loading the mixture of step (b) onto a strong anion exchange resin, said resin being in a vessel having an inlet for flow of a suspension and/or solution and an outlet permitting flow of eluate from the vessel; (d) washing the loaded anion exchange resin with a buffer which comprises 10mM NaCl and 20mM BTP with a pH in the range 10.0 to 10.4 or a pH of 10.2; (e) applying an increasing salt concentration gradient to the loaded and washed anion exchange resin and monitoring the elute for ionic strength; and (f) monitoring the eluate for peak ultraviolet absorbance at A260nm and a peak of A280nm and collecting the rAAV8 viral particles from a fraction which is eluted when the peak for the A260nm crosses over and exceeds the peak for A280nm, said rAAV8 viral particles being purified away from AAV8 intermediates. (a) separating rAAV8 viral particles and AAV8 capsid intermediates from non-AAV contaminants obtained from an AAV producer cell culture which comprises an expression cassette encoding an AAV8 capsid protein operably linked to expression control sequences which direct expression thereof in the producer cell, and an expression cassette comprising sequences for packaging in the AAV8 capsid, and an expression cassette comprising helper viruses necessary for production and packaging of the AAV8 capsid into the viral particle, wherein the separation is performed by a high performance affinity resin having an antibody for AAV8 to afford a purified materials of (a); (b) forming a loading suspension comprising: a suspension which comprises (i) materials of step (a) purified by the high performance affinity resin; and (ii) a first buffer comprising 20 mM Bis-Tris propane and a pH of in the range 10.0 to 10.4 or a pH of 10.2; (c) loading the mixture of step (b) onto a strong anion exchange resin, said resin being in a vessel having an inlet for flow of a suspension and/or solution and an outlet permitting flow of eluate from the vessel; (d) washing the loaded anion exchange resin with a buffer which comprises 10mM NaCl and 20mM BTP with a pH in the range 10.0 to 10.4 or a pH of 10.2; (e) applying an increasing salt concentration gradient to the loaded and washed anion exchange resin and monitoring the elute for ionic strength; and (f) monitoring the eluate for peak ultraviolet absorbance at A260nm and a peak of A280nm and collecting the rAAV8 viral particles from a fraction which is eluted when the peak for the A260nm crosses over and exceeds the peak for A280nm, said rAAV8 viral particles being purified away from AAV8 intermediates.