The invention discloses a matrix-assisted 
laser desorption ionization time-of-flight 
mass spectrometer and a sample detection method. The 
mass spectrometer comprises a sealed shell for forming a vacuum cavity, a 
laser positioned outside the sealed shell, a target plate contained in the sealed shell, a modulation 
electrode set, a first deflection 
electrode set, a first reflecting mirror, a flight tube and a 
detector, wherein the 
laser is used for emitting 
laser beams to the sealed shell; the first reflecting mirror is used for reflecting the 
laser beams to enable the 
laser beams to vertically irradiate a sample placed on the target plate; the modulation 
electrode set is used for modulating 
ion beams emitted by gasification and 
ionization of the sample under the vertical 
irradiation of the laser beams, and the 
ion beams contain effective ions, neutral particles and non-selective ions; and the first deflection electrode set is used for generating a first 
electric field to deflect a 
flight direction of the effective ions in the modulated 
ion beams, so that the effective ions subjected to 
flight direction deflection enter one end of the flight tube in the axial direction of the flight tube and are received by the 
detector arranged at the other end of the flight tube.