Systems, methods and computer program products for the multi-modal detection of particles are described herein. An embodiment of the present invention is a particle detector that includes a first chamber wherein analyte particles are subjected to a first particle detection mechanism, and a second chamber coupled to the first chamber, wherein the analyte particles are subjected to a second particle detection mechanism, and wherein the detection characteristics of second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first particle detection mechanism. According to another embodiment, the present invention is a particle detection method including the steps of detecting presence of at least one predetermined particle type in an analyte particle sample using a first particle detection mechanism, and confirming the presence of the predetermined particle type in the analyte particle sample using a second particle detection mechanism, wherein detection characteristics of the second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first detection mechanism.