Comparison of scanner method and stamp pad method for dermatoglyphic patterns

Dermatoglyphics are useful in anthropological, medico legal and genetic studies. Hereditary and prenatal environmental factors leading to malocclusion may also influence fingerprint patterns which are classified into arches, loops and whorls. Dermatoglyphic pattern can be recorded by stamp ink pad method or scanner method. This study was conducted with an aim to compare stamp pad method and scanner method in terms of visibility and ease of identification by panel of postgraduate students of orthodontic speciality.Finger print pattern of 140 digit of 14 participants with aged range of 20-40 years, were recorded by both stamp pad method and scanning method using Futronic scanner. Print out of scanned images was taken. Post graduate students were briefed about identification of different types of dermatoglyphic pattern and asked to identify finger prints of each subject which were arranged randomly in a file. The fingerprint pattern was cross-checked and identified by the operator. A questionnaire in the Google form was also given to each participant to know the ease of identification and visibility of finger pattern in both patterns. 92.8% of fingerprint pattern were correctly judged by participants for scanner method whereas 90% of fingerprint pattern were correctly judged by same participants for stamp pad method in comparison to judgement made by operator. According to participants scanner method was easier to identify due to better visibility.77.8% participants found smudges in ink pad, 83.3% participants found better color contrast in scanning method. 72.2% participants found stamp pad method to be more time consuming.It can be concluded that the scanner method may be better in terms of identification, visibility as seen by the response of participants. Therefore, there was less error in identification of fingerprint pattern with scanner method but with experience, accurate results could be derived from both the techniques.