The invention relates to a method for examining a liquid which contains at least one cell and/or at least one particle using a first and a second measurement signal emanating from a liquid region, wherein the method has the following steps: (a) reading the first measurement signal and analysing the first measurement signal; and (b) determining based on the analysed first measurement signal (15) whether a detection of the second measurement signal (20) is carried out and a reading of the detected second measurement signal is completed, or whether a reading of the detected second measurement signal (20) is completed, or whether a reading of the detected second measurement signal (20) is interrupted.