Disclosed herein are mesylate containing compositions, methods of use of such compositions and kits of components encompassing such compositions for improving the amplification of nucleic acids, especially in the presence of enzymatic inhibitors. These find particular use in forensic and environmental analyses. The instant disclosure provides new compositions, methods and kits of components for overcoming PCR inhibition. In some embodiments disclosed herein is a PCR master mix, the PCR master mix encompassing a mesylate.