A system and method for matrix assisted laser desorption time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. A method for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry includes initiating a spectral analysis of a sample on a MALDI-TOF spectrometer. The sample is ionized, and a first ion spectrum is detected and stored. Thereafter, the spectrometer is reset, and the ionizing, detecting, storing, and resetting are repeated until a predetermined plurality of spectra of the sample is acquired.