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PCR Enzymes and Master Mixes |
Choose from a variety of stand-alone PCR enzymes and master mixes optimized for your applications and experimental needs.
PCR master mix
Our new generation of Platinum DNA polymerases come with novel buffers enabling universal primer annealing at a temperature of 60°C. The universal primer annealing allows all primers to anneal to the template DNA at 60°C, eliminating Tm calculations and enhancing convenience. A combination of the innovative buffers, high-performing enzymes, and reliable hot-start technology offers exceptional PCR results, even in the toughest applications.
A PCR master mix is a pre-mixed solution that contains a thermostable DNA polymerase, dNTPs (deoxynucleotide triphosphates), buffer, and other additives. The optimized master mix formulation helps ensure consistent and reliable results, save time, and reduce the potential for errors during reaction set up. In addition, PCR master mixes can be an economical choice compared to purchasing individual enzymes and reagents.
Learn how our commitment to enzyme excellence, including the exceptional reliability and high-fidelity of Platinum DNA Polymerases, are leading the way in the pursuit of science.
Interactive enzyme selection tool: Quickly find the DNA polymerase you need for your PCR!
Compare PCR enzyme and master mix by PCR type
Hot-start PCR
Hot-start PCR is a type of PCR where DNA polymerase activity is inhibited until the initial denaturation step. This inhibition is achieved through various methods, such as antibodies, affibodies, or chemical modifications of the polymerase. The benefits of hot-start PCR include increased specificity and yield.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-start technology | Antibody | Chemical |
| Enzyme activation time | 2 min | 10 min |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | No |
| DNA synthesis speed | 15 sec/kb | 60 sec/kb |
| Flexible extension step* | Yes | No |
| Inhibitor tolerance | Yes | No |
| Amplification length | Up to 5 kb | Up to 5 kb |
| GC-rich format | Yes | Yes |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless† Order now | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green** | Colorless Order now |
| *The extension step can be extended up to 60 sec/kb without the effect of specificity. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. †Green buffer available as separate item for use with stand-alone enzyme. | ||
Note: The original Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase is available in the formats of stand alone, stand alone with gel-loading dyes, master mix, and master mix with gel-loading dyes.
A hot start towards your PCR destinations
Find comparison of technical specifications between Platinum II Taq Hot-Start and Platinum Taq DNA Polymerases
High-fidelity PCR
High fidelity PCR, also known as proofreading PCR, is a technique that utilizes DNA polymerases with a built-in proofreading capability to ensure accurate sequence amplification with no errors introduced in the sequence.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x | 6x |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | No |
| Amplification length | Up to 20 kb* | Up to 20 kb |
| Amplicon overhangs | Blunt | 3′ A/Blunt |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes | No |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green** | Colorless Order now |
| *Amplification of >20 kb fragment sizes is possible (up to 40 kb), but may require additional optimization of reaction conditions and primer design. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | ||
Long-range PCR
Long-range PCR is a technique used to amplify DNA fragments that are longer than 5 kb, which is larger than the typical limit of standard PCR. It involves modifying the PCR conditions and utilizing specialized DNA polymerases to overcome the challenges associated with amplifying longer DNA sequences.
| |
|---|---|
| Amplification length | Up to 20 kb* |
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes |
| DNA synthesis speed | 15–30 sec/kb |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green** |
| *Amplification of >20 kb fragment sizes is possible (up to 40 kb), but may require additional optimization of reaction conditions and primer design. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | |
White paper: Assembly of large PCR amplicons by the Gibson Assembly method
Multiplex PCR
Multiplex PCR is a technique that allows for the concurrent amplification of multiple target DNA sequences within a single PCR reaction. It involves the use of multiple primer sets, each specific to a different target sequence, but amplified in a single reaction mixture.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| No. of amplicons in single reaction | Up to 15-plex | Up to 20-plex |
| Amplification length | Up to 2.5 kb | Up to 2.5 kb |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes | Yes |
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x | 1x |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | No |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes | No |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now | N/A |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green* | Colorless Order now |
| *Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | ||
Application note: Multiplex PCR with Platinum SuperFi II DNA
GC-rich PCR
GC-rich PCR is amplification of DNA fragments with high GC content. GC-rich regions of DNA often form stable secondary structures, such as hairpins or G-quadruplexes, that pose a challenge to efficient DNA amplification. Our enzymes are designed to amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x | 1x |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes | Yes |
| Efficient amplification of >65% GC sequences | Yes | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | Yes |
| Speed | 15–30 sec/kb | 15 sec/kb |
| Amplification length | Up to 20 kb | Up to 5 kb |
| Amplicon overhangs | Blunt | 3′ A |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green* | Colorless Green* |
| *Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | ||
Application note: Detection of target DNA in cell samples by direct PCR
Direct PCR
Direct PCR is a streamlined technique that allows for DNA amplification directly from various biological samples without DNA extraction or purification steps.
| |
|---|---|
| Works across samples of various origins | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes |
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | 1x |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes |
| Amplification length | Up to 8 kb* |
| Speed | 20 sec/kb |
| Stand-alone enzyme | N/A |
| Master mix format | Green** Order now |
| *Using the lysis protocol. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | |
Application note: Detection of target DNA in cell samples by direct PCR
Hot-start PCR
Hot-start PCR is a type of PCR where DNA polymerase activity is inhibited until the initial denaturation step. This inhibition is achieved through various methods, such as antibodies, affibodies, or chemical modifications of the polymerase. The benefits of hot-start PCR include increased specificity and yield.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-start technology | Antibody | Chemical |
| Enzyme activation time | 2 min | 10 min |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | No |
| DNA synthesis speed | 15 sec/kb | 60 sec/kb |
| Flexible extension step* | Yes | No |
| Inhibitor tolerance | Yes | No |
| Amplification length | Up to 5 kb | Up to 5 kb |
| GC-rich format | Yes | Yes |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless† Order now | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green** | Colorless Order now |
| *The extension step can be extended up to 60 sec/kb without the effect of specificity. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. †Green buffer available as separate item for use with stand-alone enzyme. | ||
Note: The original Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase is available in the formats of stand alone, stand alone with gel-loading dyes, master mix, and master mix with gel-loading dyes.
A hot start towards your PCR destinations
Find comparison of technical specifications between Platinum II Taq Hot-Start and Platinum Taq DNA Polymerases
High-fidelity PCR
High fidelity PCR, also known as proofreading PCR, is a technique that utilizes DNA polymerases with a built-in proofreading capability to ensure accurate sequence amplification with no errors introduced in the sequence.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x | 6x |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | No |
| Amplification length | Up to 20 kb* | Up to 20 kb |
| Amplicon overhangs | Blunt | 3′ A/Blunt |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes | No |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green** | Colorless Order now |
| *Amplification of >20 kb fragment sizes is possible (up to 40 kb), but may require additional optimization of reaction conditions and primer design. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | ||
Long-range PCR
Long-range PCR is a technique used to amplify DNA fragments that are longer than 5 kb, which is larger than the typical limit of standard PCR. It involves modifying the PCR conditions and utilizing specialized DNA polymerases to overcome the challenges associated with amplifying longer DNA sequences.
| |
|---|---|
| Amplification length | Up to 20 kb* |
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes |
| DNA synthesis speed | 15–30 sec/kb |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green** |
| *Amplification of >20 kb fragment sizes is possible (up to 40 kb), but may require additional optimization of reaction conditions and primer design. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | |
White paper: Assembly of large PCR amplicons by the Gibson Assembly method
Multiplex PCR
Multiplex PCR is a technique that allows for the concurrent amplification of multiple target DNA sequences within a single PCR reaction. It involves the use of multiple primer sets, each specific to a different target sequence, but amplified in a single reaction mixture.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| No. of amplicons in single reaction | Up to 15-plex | Up to 20-plex |
| Amplification length | Up to 2.5 kb | Up to 2.5 kb |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes | Yes |
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x | 1x |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | No |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes | No |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now | N/A |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green* | Colorless Order now |
| *Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | ||
Application note: Multiplex PCR with Platinum SuperFi II DNA
GC-rich PCR
GC-rich PCR is amplification of DNA fragments with high GC content. GC-rich regions of DNA often form stable secondary structures, such as hairpins or G-quadruplexes, that pose a challenge to efficient DNA amplification. Our enzymes are designed to amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | >300x | 1x |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes | Yes |
| Efficient amplification of >65% GC sequences | Yes | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes | Yes |
| Speed | 15–30 sec/kb | 15 sec/kb |
| Amplification length | Up to 20 kb | Up to 5 kb |
| Amplicon overhangs | Blunt | 3′ A |
| Stand-alone enzyme | Colorless Order now | Colorless Order now |
| Master mix format | Colorless Green* | Colorless Green* |
| *Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | ||
Application note: Detection of target DNA in cell samples by direct PCR
Direct PCR
Direct PCR is a streamlined technique that allows for DNA amplification directly from various biological samples without DNA extraction or purification steps.
| |
|---|---|
| Works across samples of various origins | Yes |
| Universal annealing temperature of 60°C | Yes |
| Hot start for enhanced specificity | Yes |
| Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme | 1x |
| GC-rich amplification | Yes |
| Amplification length | Up to 8 kb* |
| Speed | 20 sec/kb |
| Stand-alone enzyme | N/A |
| Master mix format | Green** Order now |
| *Using the lysis protocol. **Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products. | |
Application note: Detection of target DNA in cell samples by direct PCR
Taq DNA polymerases: Native and recombinant enzymes
Native DNA polymerases are naturally occurring enzymes found in various organisms such as bacteria and archaea. Taq DNA polymerase is one of the best-known thermostable DNA polymerases used in PCR amplification of DNA targets. The native enzyme is purified from Thermus aquaticus YT1. The native Taq DNA polymerase is often preferred for amplification of bacterial DNA sequences homologous to E. coli sequences. The recombinant enzyme is a cloned version of native Taq polymerases with improved properties and functionalities.
Platinum DNA polymerases for excellent results
- Less downstream troubleshooting—ultralow sequence errors due to >300x fidelity of Taq enzyme
- Best suited for: cloning, sequencing, mutagenesis
- Short PCR cycling time—DNA synthesis at 15 sec/kb
- Best suited for: gene detection, genotyping, low copy number amplification
- Simplified workflow—no DNA purification prior to PCR
- Best suited for: genotyping, colony screening
The new generation of Platinum DNA polymerases come with novel buffers, enabling primer annealing at a universal temperature of 60°C. A combination of the innovative buffers, high-performing enzymes, and reliable hot-start technology offers exceptional PCR results even for challenging applications.
Benefits of platinum PCR enzymes
- Enhanced PCR specificity—Antibody-mediated hot-start enzymes with Platinum technology
- Circumvent multiple PCR runs—Ability to co-cycle different PCR assays
- Detecting multiple targets from one template—Ability to multiplex up to 15 targets
- Fewer steps for pipetting and reagent setup—Necessary reaction components and direct gel-loading dyes included in the green master mixes
- Simplify PCR optimization steps—Protocol with a universal annealing temperature
- Robust PCR with difficult targets—High tolerance to inhibitor-containing samples and efficient amplification of GC-rich sequences
- Enabling automation or robotic setup—Assembled reactions stable on the benchtop for 8–24 hours
 | PCR enzymes education resources |
| Access PCR learning resources—a knowledge base of all things PCR. | |
 | Molecular biology webinars |
| View our webinars for current date to learn more about molecular biology topics. | |
 | PCR enzymes videos |
| Discover product features and tips to optimize your PCR experiments. | |
 | Support center |
| Find tips, troubleshooting help, and resources for your end-point PCR and cDNA applications. | |
 | Contact us |
| Email or call our Technical Application Scientists for questions regarding PCR enzymes and master mixes. | |
 | OEM and custom PCR products |
| Discover custom manufacturing solutions, product labeling, and packaging capabilities tailored to your specifications. | |
Stylesheet for Classic Wide Template adjustments
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.