Spectral flow cytometry is a technique based on conventional flow cytometry, but has unique optical collection and analytical capabilities. Traditional flow cytometry uses mirrors, optical filter and photomultiplier tubes in the optics system, which are unable to collect the complete spectrum of a molecule. However, in spectral flow cytometry, dispersive optics, such as prisms or spectrographs, are employed to disperse the collected light across a detector array, allowing the measurement of full spectra from each particle.