1. A detection system for analyzing a polymer having three or more distinct fluorophores, each fluorophore having an excitation wavelength and a corresponding emission bandwidth, the detection system comprising: a polymer interrogation zone constructed and arranged to accept the polymer; at least three different emitters, each of the emitters constructed and arranged to emit an excitation signal substantially at an excitation wavelength of a corresponding one of the at least three fluorophores such that each fluorophore emits a distinct emission signal within its respective emission bandwidth and each distinct emission signal has an emission maximum separated by at least 60 nm from any other of the emission maximums; and a detector constructed and arranged to distinctly detect the emission signal from each of the at least three fluorophores.