Polymer-shielded dye-affinity chromatography is a form of chromatography in which the dye matrix forms complexes with a nonionic, water-soluble polymer such as poly(vinylpyrrolidone) or poly(vinyl alcohol), prior to the column chromatography of a crude protein extract, the idea being that polymer shielding of the dye will prevent nonspecific interactions between the target protein and the dye. The concept of polymer shielding and a strategy for the rational selection of polymers suitable as shielding agents are presented.