Patent ID: 7413865

Claim:
A method of diagnosis for the presence of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in an animal, comprising: assaying a sample obtained from the animal to determine the relative number of hematopoietic cells of the erythroid, megakaryocyte or platelet lineages in the sample, wherein the hematopoietic cells of the erythroid, megakaryocyte or platelet lineages that are assayed comprise, one or more of pluripotent stem cells, myeloid stem cells, CFU-GEMM cells (Colony-Forming Unit Granulocyte/Erythrocyte/Monocyte/Megakaryocyte), BFU-E cells (Blast-Forming Unit—Erythroid), CFU-E cells (Colony-Forming Unit Erythroid), proerythroblasts, reticulocytes, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, or platelets, wherein the number of hematopoietic cells of the erythroid, megakaryocyte or platelet lineages is assessed with reference to an expression product of said cells, and comparing the amount of said expression product to a normal range, wherein said expression product assayed for is selected from the group consisting of Erythroid Differentiation Related Factor, KELL, band 3 , ankyrin and glycophorin A and wherein a 4-fold or more reduction in the level of said expression product relative to said normal range is indicative of the presence of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.