Various light emitting diode (LED) based measurement systems and methods are provided. One system includes one or more arrays of LEDs (14, 16, 18) arranged along a flow path (20) of a sample (10). The arrays are configured to illuminate the sample as the sample moves along the flow path. The system also includes one or more detectors (24) configured to detect light resulting from illumination of the sample by the arrays. One method includes illuminating a microsphere at different positions along a flow path of the microsphere. The method also includes detecting light resulting from the illumination to produce individual output signals corresponding to the illumination at the different positions. The method further includes combining the individual OUTPUT signals to produce a single outputsignal having a signal-to-noise ratio that is greater than a signal-to-noise ratio of the individual output signals.