We have examined the adhesion of glutaraldehyde-treated human red blood cells to a clean liquid hydrocarbon interface as a function of sodium chloride concentration. Cells adhere reversibly to the interface over a wide range of concentrations but fail to do so below about 0.1 mM. Adherent cells do not alter the tension of the oil/water interface. These results show that cells can adhere by physical forces in special situations without biochemical interactions. The data provide a basis for calculating the size of the physical forces.