PCR Enzymes & Master Mixes

Choose from a variety of PCR enzymes and reagents for your applications, with the flexibility needed to perform your experiments. With PCR enzymes you know and trust, such as, Applied Biosystems AmpliTaq and AmpliTaq Gold, Invitrogen Platinum II Taq , and Platinum SuperFi II DNA polymerases, we have what it takes for successful PCR.

Interactive enzyme selection tool: quickly find the DNA polymerase you need for your PCR!

Compare PCR enzyme and master mix by PCR type

To increase specificity and yield

 Platinum II Taq
Hot-Start DNA Polymerase

AmpliTaq Gold 360 DNA Polymerase
Hot-start technologyAntibodyChemical
Enzyme activation time2 min10 min
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesNo
DNA synthesis speed15 sec/kb60 sec/kb
Flexible extension step*YesNo
Inhibitor toleranceYesNo
Amplification lengthUp to 5 kbUp to 5 kb
GC-rich formatYesYes
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Colorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green**
Colorless
* 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.
Its comparison with the newer Platinum II Taq DNA Polymerase can be found here.

For when sequence accuracy is critical

 Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase
Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase High Fidelity
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x6x
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesNo
Amplification lengthUp to 20 kb*Up to 20 kb
Amplicon overhangsBlunt3′ A/Blunt
GC-rich amplificationYes
No
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Colorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green**
Colorless
* 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.

For robust yields of templates longer than 10 kb

 Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase
Amplification lengthUp to 20 kb*
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x
Hot start for enhanced specificityYes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYes
GC-rich amplificationYes
DNA synthesis speed15–30 sec/kb
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Master mix formatColorless
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

To amplify multiple targets in one reaction

 Platinum SuperFi II
DNA Polymerase
Platinum Multiplex
PCR Master Mix

No. of amplicons in single reaction Up to 15-plexUp to 20-plex
Amplification lengthUp to 2.5 kbUp to 2.5 kb
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYes
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x1x
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesNo
GC-rich amplificationYes
No
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
 
Master mix format Colorless
Green*
Colorless
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

Application note

To amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content

 Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase
Platinum II Taq
DNA Polymerase

Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x1x
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYes
Efficient amplification of >65% GC sequencesYes
Yes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesYes
Speed15–30 sec/kb15 sec/kb
Amplification lengthUp to 20 kbUp to 5 kb
Amplicon overhangsBlunt3′ A
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Colorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green*
Colorless
Green*
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

To amplify target DNA directly from samples without DNA purification

 Platinum Direct PCR Universal Master Mix
Works across samples of various originsYes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYes
Hot start for enhanced specificityYes
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme1x
GC-rich amplificationYes
Amplification length Up to 8 kb*
Speed20 sec/kb
Stand-alone enzymeN/A
Master mix formatGreen**
* 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

For accurate detection and identification of microbiome composition by 16S rRNA genes

 Platinum II Taq
DNA Polymerase

Platinum Taq
DNA Polymerase,
DNA-free

Platinum SuperFi II
DNA Polymerase

Bacterial gDNA copy per 50 μL rxn≤1 copy≤0.01 copy≤1 copy
Human gDNA copy per 50 μL rxn≤0.2 copy≤0.001 copy≤0.3 copy
DNA synthesis speed15 sec/kb60 sec/kb15–30 sec/kb
Inhibitor toleranceYesNoYes
Amplification lengthUp to 5 kbUp to 5 kbUp to 20 kb
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme1x1x>300x
GC-rich amplificationYesNoYes
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYesYes
Universal primer annealingYesNoYes
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
ColorlessColorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green*
 Colorless
Green*
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

For everyday PCR amplification

 DreamTaq DNA PolymeraseInvitrogen Taq DNA Polymerase
AmpliTaq DNA Polymerase
Hot-start modificationNoNoNo
Amplification lengthUp to 6 kbUp to 5 kbUp to 5 kb
5′→ 3′ exonuclease activityYesYesYes
Amplicon overhangs3′ A3′ A3′ A
dUTP incorporationNoYesYes
DNA synthesis speed1 min/kb1 min/kb1 min/kb
Format with the native enzyme* Available 
Format for low bacterial DNA  Available
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Green**
ColorlessColorless
Master mix/SuperMix formatColorless
Green**
Colorless 
* Purified from the host Thermus aquaticus, not expressed in a bacterial system.
** Contains electrophoresis dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

To increase specificity and yield

 Platinum II Taq
Hot-Start DNA Polymerase

AmpliTaq Gold 360 DNA Polymerase
Hot-start technologyAntibodyChemical
Enzyme activation time2 min10 min
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesNo
DNA synthesis speed15 sec/kb60 sec/kb
Flexible extension step*YesNo
Inhibitor toleranceYesNo
Amplification lengthUp to 5 kbUp to 5 kb
GC-rich formatYesYes
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Colorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green**
Colorless
* 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.
Its comparison with the newer Platinum II Taq DNA Polymerase can be found here.

For when sequence accuracy is critical

 Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase
Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase High Fidelity
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x6x
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesNo
Amplification lengthUp to 20 kb*Up to 20 kb
Amplicon overhangsBlunt3′ A/Blunt
GC-rich amplificationYes
No
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Colorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green**
Colorless
* 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.

For robust yields of templates longer than 10 kb

 Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase
Amplification lengthUp to 20 kb*
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x
Hot start for enhanced specificityYes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYes
GC-rich amplificationYes
DNA synthesis speed15–30 sec/kb
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Master mix formatColorless
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

To amplify multiple targets in one reaction

 Platinum SuperFi II
DNA Polymerase
Platinum Multiplex
PCR Master Mix

No. of amplicons in single reaction Up to 15-plexUp to 20-plex
Amplification lengthUp to 2.5 kbUp to 2.5 kb
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYes
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x1x
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesNo
GC-rich amplificationYes
No
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
 
Master mix format Colorless
Green*
Colorless
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

Application note

To amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content

 Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase
Platinum II Taq
DNA Polymerase

Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme>300x1x
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYes
Efficient amplification of >65% GC sequencesYes
Yes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYesYes
Speed15–30 sec/kb15 sec/kb
Amplification lengthUp to 20 kbUp to 5 kb
Amplicon overhangsBlunt3′ A
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Colorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green*
Colorless
Green*
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

To amplify target DNA directly from samples without DNA purification

 Platinum Direct PCR Universal Master Mix
Works across samples of various originsYes
Universal annealing temperature of 60°CYes
Hot start for enhanced specificityYes
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme1x
GC-rich amplificationYes
Amplification length Up to 8 kb*
Speed20 sec/kb
Stand-alone enzymeN/A
Master mix formatGreen**
* 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

For accurate detection and identification of microbiome composition by 16S rRNA genes

 Platinum II Taq
DNA Polymerase

Platinum Taq
DNA Polymerase,
DNA-free

Platinum SuperFi II
DNA Polymerase

Bacterial gDNA copy per 50 μL rxn≤1 copy≤0.01 copy≤1 copy
Human gDNA copy per 50 μL rxn≤0.2 copy≤0.001 copy≤0.3 copy
DNA synthesis speed15 sec/kb60 sec/kb15–30 sec/kb
Inhibitor toleranceYesNoYes
Amplification lengthUp to 5 kbUp to 5 kbUp to 20 kb
Fidelity vs. Taq enzyme1x1x>300x
GC-rich amplificationYesNoYes
Hot start for enhanced specificityYesYesYes
Universal primer annealingYesNoYes
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
ColorlessColorless
Master mix formatColorless
Green*
 Colorless
Green*
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

For everyday PCR amplification

 DreamTaq DNA PolymeraseInvitrogen Taq DNA Polymerase
AmpliTaq DNA Polymerase
Hot-start modificationNoNoNo
Amplification lengthUp to 6 kbUp to 5 kbUp to 5 kb
5′→ 3′ exonuclease activityYesYesYes
Amplicon overhangs3′ A3′ A3′ A
dUTP incorporationNoYesYes
DNA synthesis speed1 min/kb1 min/kb1 min/kb
Format with the native enzyme* Available 
Format for low bacterial DNA  Available
Stand-alone enzymeColorless
Green**
ColorlessColorless
Master mix/SuperMix formatColorless
Green**
Colorless 
* Purified from the host Thermus aquaticus, not expressed in a bacterial system.
** Contains electrophoresis dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.
  • For Thermo Scientific DreamTaq and Phusion DNA polymerases, please visit here.
  • Extra PCR buffers, when available, can be ordered from their respective enzyme pages linked in the table headers.
  • dNTPs are also available in a variety of concentrations and formats.

Highlights of the latest Platinum DNA polymerases

The new generation of Platinum DNA polymerases is designed with Platinum II buffers, enabling primer annealing at a universal temperature of 60°C, for convenience and simplicity. A combination of the innovative buffers, high-performing enzymes, and reliable hot-start technology offers exceptional PCR results, even in the toughest applications.

Common benefits of Platinum PCR enzymes

Enhanced PCR specificity—antibody-mediated hot-start enzymes with Platinum technology
Helping to 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
Simplifying 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

Videos


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Resources

  • PCR education
    Learn about the history of PCR, setup considerations, importance of DNA polymerase choice, common methods and applications, and troubleshooting.
  • Molecular biology webinars
    View our webinar series to learn more about molecular biology topics such as reverse transcription, PCR and cloning.
  • OEM & customized PCR solutions
    Discover customizable manufacturing solutions, product labeling, and packaging capabilities for your specific requirements.
Support
  • PCR and cDNA synthesis support center
    Find tips, troubleshooting help, and resources for your end-point PCR and cDNA applications. 
  • Product support documentation
    Search for manuals, protocols, Material Safety Data Sheets, product literature and certificates by catalog number or product name.
  • Contact us
    Email or call our Technical Application Scientists for additional questions regarding PCR enzymes and master mixes.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.