This invention relates to microfluidic systems and more particularly to methods and apparatus for accessing the contents of micro droplets in an emulsion stream. A method of accessing the contents of a droplet of an emulsion in a microfluidic system, the method comprising: flowing the emulsion alongside a continuous, non- emulsive stream of second fluid to providean interface between said emulsion and said streamofsecond fluid; and in embodiments applying one or both of an electric and magnetic field across said interface to alter a trajectory of a said droplet of said emulsionto cause said droplet to coalesce withsaid streamofsecond fluid; and accessing said contents of said droplet in said second stream.
