In recent years, there has been a mounting concern over the use of animal products in many pharmaceutical and biotech industry applications because of the threat of animal viruses and transmissible sponge-form ensephelopathies, that may be present in bovine-derived proteins. Current methods of preparation involve purification of the protein from bovine plasma and testing for the presence of these contaminating agents. However, testing can only detect known viruses or TSEs and does not uncover infectious agents that have not yet been discovered. Therefore, there is currently no alternative...