Mass cytometry is a mass spectrometry technique based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and time of flight mass spectrometry used for the determination of the properties of cells (cytometry). In this approach, antibodies are tagged with isotopically pure rare earth elements and these are used to tag the components of cells. Cells are nebulized and sent to an argon plasma, ionizing the multi-atom metal tags, which are then analyzed by a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The approach overcomes limitations of spectral overlap that limit flow cytometry.