Ambion's "Detection Enhancer" is a PCR enhancer that is part of their  AgPath-ID One-Step RT-PCR kit

The Detection Enhancer (DE) is probably ~ 50% acetamide.

Evidence:

- MSDS says it is "30-60% solution". We can also learn that the compound contains nitrogen and no sulfur, poorly flammable, stable

but incompatible with strong acids (consistent with acetamide - peptide bond acid hydrolysis!).

- Listed oral rat LD50 is exactly the same as for acetamide.

- The compound is listed as IARC 2B possible carcinogene category - just like acetamide (and NOT like betaine; betain

is also less toxic): http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/crthgr02b.php

- Acetamide is a known PCR enhancer that is used at ~ 5% final.