A system and method for a flow cytometer system including a prepared sample fluid with reference beads; an interrogation zone that analyzes the prepared sample fluid; a peristaltic pump system that draws the sample fluid through the interrogation zone; and a processor that monitors a measured volume of sample fluid sampled by the peristaltic pump system and an expected sample volume based on data generated by the analysis of the sample fluid. A system and method is additionally described using an alternative volume sensing fluidic system.