Multiplex PCR - Q-solution composition (Sep/19/2005 )

Hi!
Í'm trying the qiagen's multiplex kit and it works really well. It seems that the Q-solution is the key reagent. Do anyone knows what is the Q-solution composition? Thanks!!!!

This is proprietary information, so they will not tell you. My best guess is that is includes some DMSO and PEG and other PCR "enhancers". This is not always necessary to include in your reaction, but helps on templates which are difficult to amplify.

I believe I was told that Q solution is betaine.

Frackman et al. (1998) have demonstrated (using NMR analysis) that the PCR additive provided by QIAGEN in their PCR core kit and that provided by CLONTECH in the Advantage-GC cDNA PCR kit is in fact Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) which is available at a fraction of the cost from Aldrich (cat. # 21,906-1). The anhydrous or monohydrate forms will dissolve at 5.5 M, Betaine HCl does not readily dissolve.

Wow, thats for the info. That is kind of a funny story!