Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) has been immobilized to poly(vinyl alcohol)-stabilized liquid perfluorocarbon droplets. This affinity emulsion has been shown to adsorb Staphylococcus aureus cells from solutions with adsorption capacities of 32 x 10(9) and 48 x 10(9) cells/mL for affinity emulsions with immobilized IgG densities of 1.15 and 2.45 mg/mL, respectively. The kinetics of cell binding from solution were found to be rapid with clearance of S. aureus cells from a suspension (8 x 10(8) cell/mL) achievable in under 5 min. S.aureus cells(l.3 x 10(9) cells) could also be rapidly depleted from a suspension of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (3.4 x 10(10) cell/mL) in under 18 min with no cross-reactivity being observed. The affinity emulsion was stable for at least five cycles of operation with little loss in adsorption capacity when removal of adsorbed cells was carried out at pH 2.5.