An analysis of whorl patterns for determination of hand

•In the present work, whorl fingerprint patterns were analyzed to determine the “hand” of the print.•In all, Nine parameters were studied, that can be used to distinguish a print from right or left hand with great confidence.•The results of the present study are compared with the results of the previous (two) studies.•The figures are interactively coloured and labelled to make these parameters easily understandable to readers.•Statistically significant results were obtained at p < 0.01 levels.

On crime scenes, whole set of the ten digit fingerprints are rarely found and usually chance prints in the form of single digit fingerprint are encountered. Determination of hand (Right or left) can be of vital importance to reduce the burden on the investigator and may thereby aid in fixation of absolute identity of the donor. In the present investigation, 500 randomly selected and bilateral rolled fingerprints of 250 healthy, consenting adult subjects of a central Indian (Marathi) population with whorl patterns were examined to determine the hand. It was found that by studying various parameters like; slope of apex ridges (towards right, left or absent), rotation of innermost ridges (either clockwise, anti-clockwise or absent), angle formed at both sides of core, position of the perpendicular bisector on the delta line (with respect to core), ridge tracing (outer, inner or meeting), higher ridge count, angle between deltas and core (at deltas), direction of the pattern (tilting/inclination) and distance between the deltas & the core; it is possible to successfully determine the hand of the print. Applying chi-square test, the results were found to be statistically significant at p < 0.01 levels.