Fluorescent labels comprising rare earth chelates

An aqueous-stabilized fluorescent label comprising fluorescent rare earth chelate incorporated into polymeric beads derived from a loaded latex wherein said rare earth chelate comprises up to about 7.5 percent by weight of said beads and said loaded latex has a polymeric discontinuous phase which consists essentially of polymer polymerized from one or more ethenic monomers and has an aqueous continuous phase and exhibits essentially no visible coagulation or settling out when 250 ml of the latex containing from about 10 to about 20 weight percent dispersed phase is stirred at 25.degree. C. into an equal volume of acetone over a 1 minute period and subsequently allowed to stand at about 25.degree. C. for 10 minutes.