Taq antibody is a monoclonal antibody that binds Taq DNA polymerase and inhibits its activity until reaction temperature is elevated. At that point, the Taq antibody is denatured and releases its hold on Taq DNA polymerase, allowing DNA synthesis to proceed. The binding of the Taq antibody to Taq DNA polymerase is the premise of hot-start PCR. It is used in the preparation of hot-start PCR or qPCR master mixes and helps to prevent nonspecific amplification and primer-dimer formation, increasing specificity and sensitivity while allowing assembly of reactions at ambient temperatures. At the first denaturation step of the thermal cycling, the antibody is quickly inactivated and PCR proceeds. The antibody-mediated hot start method is significantly more convenient to use than other hot start methods.