A fluid dispensing system with a fluid cartridge having a fluid reservoir and an ejection head. The ejection head has fluid ejectors that are in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir. A fluid detection circuit is electrically connected to at least one of the fluid ejectors. The fluid detection circuit is configured to detect and characterize a fluid in the fluid ejector, where the fluid detection circuit characterizes the resistivity of the fluid by adjusting an ejector voltage of the at least one of the fluid ejectors.