Patent ID: 8415128

Claim:
A composition comprising a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture comprising: a) a polymerase; b) a fluorescent or fluorogenic reactant that is a substrate for the polymerase; and c) a photodamage mitigating agent comprising at least: i) at least a first agent comprising a thiol-based quencher; ii) at least a second agent comprising a triplet state quencher; and iii) at least a third agent comprising an oxygen depleting enzyme wherein the photodamage mitigating agent is present in a concentration sufficient to reduce photodamage to the polymerase when the polymerase and the fluorescent or fluorogenic reactant are subjected to an excitation illumination for the fluorescent or fluorogenic reactant; further wherein interaction of the polymerase with the substrate under excitation illumination causes photodamage to the polymerase in the absence of the photodamage mitigating agent.