Fluorescent polymeric materials are disclosed comprising a polymer and one
or more lipid soluble rhodamine dyes. The materials are especially useful
in the preparation of multicolored microparticles, especially
multicolored polystyrene microparticle, for use in the multiplexed
analysis of a plurality of analytes in a single sample. When excited by a
light source, the materials give off a unique emission based on the
nature, concentration and ratio of the dyes therein. Methods of preparing
and using said materials are also disclosed.