PCR Enzymes, PCR Master Mix, and PCR Reagents | Thermo Fisher Scientific

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 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†	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless 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**	>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	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless 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 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
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

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-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
Master mix format	Colorless Green*	Colorless
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

Application note

Multiplex PCR

To amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content

	Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase	Platinum II Taq DNA Polymerase
*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	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless 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 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**
* 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 speed	15 sec/kb	60 sec/kb	15–30 sec/kb
Inhibitor tolerance	Yes	No	Yes
Amplification length	Up to 5 kb	Up to 5 kb	Up to 20 kb
*Fidelity vs. Taq* enzyme**	1x	1x	>300x
GC-rich amplification	Yes	No	Yes
Hot start for enhanced specificity	Yes	Yes	Yes
Universal primer annealing	Yes	No	Yes
Stand-alone enzyme	Colorless	Colorless	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless Green*		Colorless Green*
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

Flyer

Improve microbiome studies

Application notes

Poster

DNA polymerase for reliable microbiome studies

Data

Bacterial DNA detection by direct PCR

For everyday PCR amplification

	DreamTaq DNA Polymerase	Invitrogen Taq DNA Polymerase	AmpliTaq DNA Polymerase
Hot-start modification	No	No	No
Amplification length	Up to 6 kb	Up to 5 kb	Up to 5 kb
5′→ 3′ exonuclease activity	Yes	Yes	Yes
Amplicon overhangs	3′ A	3′ A	3′ A
dUTP incorporation	No	Yes	Yes
DNA synthesis speed	1 min/kb	1 min/kb	1 min/kb
Format with the native enzyme*		Available
Format for low bacterial DNA			Available
Stand-alone enzyme	Colorless Green**	Colorless	Colorless
Master mix/SuperMix format	Colorless 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.

Hot-Start
PCR

To increase specificity and yield

	Platinum II Taq Hot-Start DNA Polymerase	AmpliTaq Gold 360 DNA Polymerase
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†	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless 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.

High-Fidelity
PCR

For when sequence accuracy is critical

	Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase	Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase High Fidelity
*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	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless 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.

Long-Range
PCR

For robust yields of templates longer than 10 kb

	Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase
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
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

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-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
Master mix format	Colorless Green*	Colorless
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

Application note

Multiplex PCR

GC-Rich
PCR

To amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content

	Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase	Platinum II Taq DNA Polymerase
*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	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless Green*	Colorless Green*
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

Direct
PCR

To amplify target DNA directly from samples without DNA purification

	Platinum Direct PCR Universal Master Mix
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**
* 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

Broad-Range
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 speed	15 sec/kb	60 sec/kb	15–30 sec/kb
Inhibitor tolerance	Yes	No	Yes
Amplification length	Up to 5 kb	Up to 5 kb	Up to 20 kb
*Fidelity vs. Taq* enzyme**	1x	1x	>300x
GC-rich amplification	Yes	No	Yes
Hot start for enhanced specificity	Yes	Yes	Yes
Universal primer annealing	Yes	No	Yes
Stand-alone enzyme	Colorless	Colorless	Colorless
Master mix format	Colorless Green*		Colorless Green*
* Contains electrophoresis tracking dyes and a density reagent for direct gel loading of PCR products.

Flyer

Improve microbiome studies

Application notes

Poster

DNA polymerase for reliable microbiome studies

Data

Bacterial DNA detection by direct PCR

Standard
PCR

For everyday PCR amplification

	DreamTaq DNA Polymerase	Invitrogen Taq DNA Polymerase	AmpliTaq DNA Polymerase
Hot-start modification	No	No	No
Amplification length	Up to 6 kb	Up to 5 kb	Up to 5 kb
5′→ 3′ exonuclease activity	Yes	Yes	Yes
Amplicon overhangs	3′ A	3′ A	3′ A
dUTP incorporation	No	Yes	Yes
DNA synthesis speed	1 min/kb	1 min/kb	1 min/kb
Format with the native enzyme*		Available
Format for low bacterial DNA			Available
Stand-alone enzyme	Colorless Green**	Colorless	Colorless
Master mix/SuperMix format	Colorless 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.

Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase

Less downstream troubleshooting—ultralow sequence errors due to >300x fidelity of Taq enzyme
Best suited for: cloning, sequencing, mutagenesis

Platinum II Taq Hot-Start DNA Polymerase

Short PCR cycling time—DNA synthesis at 15 sec/kb
Best suited for: gene detection, genotyping, qualitative gene expression analysis

Platinum Direct PCR Universal Master Mix

Simplified workflow—no DNA purification prior to PCR
Best suited for: genotyping, colony screening

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

A hot start towards your PCR destinations

Platinum DNA polymerases—designed for exceptional specificity, fidelity, and versatility

Download the brochure

Videos

Watch more PCR videos

Find everyday lab essentials to power your PCR every step of the way. Shop now

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.

PCR Enzymes & Master Mixes

Compare PCR enzyme and master mix by PCR type

To increase specificity and yield

For when sequence accuracy is critical

For robust yields of templates longer than 10 kb

White paper

To amplify multiple targets in one reaction

Application note

To amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content

To amplify target DNA directly from samples without DNA purification

Application note

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

Flyer

Application notes

Poster

Data

For everyday PCR amplification

To increase specificity and yield

For when sequence accuracy is critical

For robust yields of templates longer than 10 kb

White paper

To amplify multiple targets in one reaction

Application note

To amplify DNA sequences with >65% GC content

To amplify target DNA directly from samples without DNA purification

Application note

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

Flyer

Application notes

Poster

Data

For everyday PCR amplification

Highlights of the latest Platinum DNA polymerases

Platinum SuperFi II DNA Polymerase

Platinum II Taq Hot-Start DNA Polymerase

Platinum Direct PCR Universal Master Mix

Common benefits of Platinum PCR enzymes

A hot start towards your PCR destinations

Videos

Resources