The present invention relates to an antibody which specifically binds to unprocessed and/or partially processed neurotoxin polypeptide or an antibody which specifically binds an epitope consisting of a peptide having an amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 16 and to methods for the manufacture of such antibodies. Moreover, the present invention relates to a composition comprising processed neurotoxin polypeptide free of unprocessed or partially processed neurotoxin polypeptide and a method for manufacturing said neurotoxin polypeptide based on the antibodies of the invention. The present invention also relates to the use of the aforementioned antibody for separating processed neurotoxin polypeptides from unprocessed or partially processed neurotoxin polypeptides or for determining unprocessed or partially processed neurotoxin polypeptides. The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a medicament.