GeneAmp® 10X PCR Gold Buffer & MgCl₂ - FAQs

What are the differences between GeneAmp 10X PCR Buffer I, PCR Buffer II and PCR Gold Buffer, and what are the formulations of each buffer?

The ionic strength and the pH of GeneAmp 10X PCR Gold Buffer have been carefully optimized for use with the AmpliTaq Gold enzyme. GeneAmp 10X PCR Buffer I contains Mg; Geneamp 10X PCR Buffer II and Geneamp 10X PCR Gold Buffer do not have Mg in them, but come with a separate vial of 25 mM MgCl2 so that you can titrate the Mg in your PCR reaction.

Buffer formulations:
Buffer I (500 mM KCl, 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.3, 15 mM MgCl2, 0.01% (w/v) gelatin)
Buffer II (500 mM KCl, 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.3), with separate tube of 25 mM MgCl2
Gold Buffer (500 mM KCl, 150 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0), with separate tube of 25 mM MgCl2

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our PCR and cDNA Synthesis Support Center.