FAQ: When should Hot Start Taq DNA Polymerase be used in a primer extension reaction or for PCR?

It is an excellent choice for routine primer extensions throughout a wide range of template sources. When cost per reaction and yield are priorities, Hot Start Taq DNA Polymerase is the industry standard. It is limited by its relatively low thermostability (half-life of 45 minutes at 94°C) and lack of a proofreading exonuclease domain. These characteristics make it a poor choice for work on long (>5 kb) extensions, on templates with a high degree of secondary structure, or in applications that strive to minimize error incorporation. OneTaq® Hot Start DNA Polymerase (NEB #M0481) is recommended for difficult amplicons. Q5® Hot Start High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase (NEB #M0493) is recommended for applications requiring high fidelity. LongAmp® Hot Start Taq DNA Polymerase (NEB #M0534) is recommended for amplification of long products.