Compositions and Methods for cDNA Synthesis

A reagent mixture comprising a ready to use reagent solution, wherein the solution comprises:

• (a) propylene glycol in a concentration between about 25% and about 50%;
• and
• (b) a viral reverse transcriptase in a concentration sufficient for use in a reverse transcription reaction without adding additional reverse transcriptase, wherein the viral reverse transcriptase is selected from the group consisting of Avian Myeloblastosis Virus Reverse Transcriptase, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Reverse Transcriptase, Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Reverse Transcriptase, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Reverse Transcriptase, Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Reverse Transcriptase, Rous-Associated Virus 2 Reverse Transcriptase, Avian Sarcoma Leukosis Virus Reverse Transcriptase, RNaseH (−) Reverse Transcriptase, SuperScript II Reverse Transcriptase, and ThermoScript Reverse Transcriptase,
• in a buffer suitable for use in a reverse transcription reaction, wherein the buffer comprises:
• a co-factor metal ion necessary for reverse transcriptase activity;
• and
• nucleoside triphosphates.