A continuous wave laser excites a biological particle. Detection channels are
created
to detect light scattered by the biological particle, and to detect any auto-fluorescence
emitted by the biological particle. Additional channels can also detect light emitted
by auto-fluorescence of the biological particle when simultaneously excited by
light at harmonics of the laser's fundamental wavelength. The biological particle
is identified using Mie scattering and auto-fluorescence. Ratio-metric calculations
generated by calculating ratios of detected peak heights or integrated pulse values
in the channels provides additional information for identifying and classifying
the biological particle. A warning or alert can be provided if the identified biological
particle is a particle of interest.
