FINGERPRINT

CLASSIFICATION FORMULA
 THE CLASSIFICATION FORMULA
CLASSIFICATION – refers to the sorting of things into division or group so that they can at later time be
quickly located.
The main purpose of a classification system is to facilitate the filing, searching and retrieval of
fingerprint records.
The Philippines is using a locally modified classification system the Henry, Galton, FBI with
NBI Modification. This system is derived through succession of steps: first is blocking out a set of prints.

Blocking out – is the process of writing below each pattern a corresponding symbol of the fingerprint
pattern in the space provided in the card conspicuously or in a capital letter purposely to facilitate the
attainment of Primary Classification.

Blocking – indicating the type of pattern by placing at the bottom of each finger block to reflect the type.
 SYMBOLS IN THE BLOCKING OF
FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
• Plain Arch - A
• Tented Arch - T
• Radial Loop - Right Hand - /
- Left Hand - \
• Ulnar Loop - Right Hand - \
- Left Hand - /
• Plain Whorl - W
• Central Pocket Loop Whorl - C
• Double Loop Whorl - D
• Accidental Whorl - X
 DIVISION OF CLASSIFICATION
FORMULA:
1. Preliminary Classification – represented by numerical value
2. Secondary Classification – consist of the following:
• Capital Letter Group
• Small Letter Group
3. Sub-secondary Classification – is the product of ridge counting and ridge tracing resulting to I,
M, O System
4. Major Classification – just as the same as the sub secondary only differ in the ridge counting
which resulting to S, M, L system but whorl tracing remains the same. The I, M, O. system.
5. Final Classification – represented by number value as a result of ridge counting both whorl and
loop of the little finger.
6. Key Classification – represented by numerical value resulting from the first ridge counted loop.
 PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION
- This refers to the summation of all the numerical values assigned to whorls
appearing in a fingerprint card which are expressed as numerator and denominator
plus the pre-established fraction or 1/1. Also known as Whorl Division.

Numerical Value – will be given to patterns belonging to whorl family only (Plain
whorl, Central pocket loop whorl, Double loop whorl and Accidental loop whorl).
Arches and Loops - have no numerical value.
 STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED:
a. Look for the whorl patterns only.
b. Paring of the ten (10) finger print impression into five (5) groups that is:

Pair 1 Right thumb and right index - (FINGER 1 AND 2)

Pair 2 Right middle and right ring - (FINGER 3 AND 4)
Pair 3 Right little and left thumb - (FINGER 5 AND 6)
Pair 4 Left index and left middle - (FINGER 7 AND 8)
Pair 5 Left ring and left little - (FINGER 9 AND 10)
c. Assigning of Numerical Value:
(1) Patterns with numerical value = All Whorls such as plain, central double and
accidental whorl)
(2) Patterns without numerical value = The loops (radial and Ulnar) and the Arch
(plain and tented arch).

Pair 1 = 16 Pair 4 = 2
Pair 2 = 8 Pair 5 = 1
Pair 3 = 4
d. Determining the numerators and the denominators
(1) Numerators are fingers with even numbers such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
(2) Denominators are fingers with odd numbers such as 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.

e. Sum all the numerators and denominators numerical value plus the pre-established
fraction of 1/1 to complete the primary division.

1/1 – Minimum Primary Classification

32/32 – Maximum Primary Classification
There are 1,024 primary classifications in the Henry Fingerprint System.
Solution:

First pair: 1. Right Thumb (/) = 0

2. Right Index (/) = 0
Second pair: 3. Right Middle (/) = 0
4. Right Ring (C) = 8
Third pair: 5. Right Little (D) = 4
6. Right Thumb (/) = 0
Fourth pair: 7. Left Index (\) = 0
8. Left Middle (\) = 0
Fifth pair: 9. Left Ring (W) = 1
10. Left Little (C) = 1

The odd fingers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are the denominator and the even fingers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) are the numerator.
The odd fingers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are the denominator and the even fingers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) are the numerator.

Primary Classification = 2+4+6+8+10

1+3+5+7+9

= 0+8+0+0+1
0+0+4+0+1

= 9+1
5+1

= 10
6
EXAMPLE # 2:
Solution:

Primary Classification = 16+0+0+0+1

16+8+4+2+1
= 17+1
31+1
= 18
32
EXAMPLE # 3:
Solution:

2. Right Index (W) = 16 1. Right Thumb (W) = 16

4. Right Ring (W) = 8 3. Right Middle (C) = 8
6. Left Thumb (W) = 4 5. Right Little (/) = 0
8. Left Middle (D) = 2 7. Left Index (\) = 0
10. Left Little (T) = 0 9. Left Ring (X)= 1

Primary Classification = 30+1

25+1
= 31
26
 SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION

- This is obtained by writing the capital letter

symbols taken from the index fingers and small letter
group from the thumb, middle, ring and the little fingers.
- It appears just right of the fraction which
represents the primary.
Capital Letter Group
– this refers to the patters appearing at the Index fingers, right Index as the numerator
and left index as the denominator. The type of pattern which can be appear as follows:
OLD NEW
• Plain Arch - A A
• Tented Arch - T T
• Radial Loop - R R
• Ulnar Loop - U U
• Plain Whorl - W W
• Central Pocket Loop Whorl - W C
• Double Loop Whorl - W D
• Accidental Whorl - W X
Small Letter Group
- It only includes small letters, a (Plain Arch), t (Tented Arch), and r (Radial
Loop).
- Prints with plain arch, tented arch and radial loop in any finger except the
index fingers constitute the small letter group of the secondary classification.
- Such “small letters” are brought up into the classification formula in their
relative positions immediately adjacent to the index fingers.
- A dash (-) is used to indicate the absence of each small letter between the
index fingers and another small letter, or between two small letters:
 EXAMPLE #1:

Secondary Classification = C--r

 EXAMPLE # 2:

Secondary Classification = rWr-t

rDr
 EXAMPLE # 3:

Secondary Classification = aR2at

Rr
 SUB-SECONDARY
CLASSIFICATION
• This refers to grouping of print according to the ridge count of loops and ridge tracing of
whorls appearing at the index, middle and ring fingers.
• It is placed on the classification line immediately to the right of the secondary classification
• The result of the ridge count must written on the right upper corner of block where found
and later converted into symbol (I or O) and write it on the rightmost portion of the
classification line.
• The result of the ridge trace must be written on the right upper corner of the block in symbol
(I, M, or O) and the re-exhibit on the rightmost portion of the classification line.
 RIDGE COUNTING FOR LOOP
Index Finger
1 – 9 ridge count = Inner (I)
10 or more ridge count = Outer (O)

Middle Fingers
1 – 10 ridge count = Inner (I)
11 or more ridge count = Outer (O)

Ring Fingers
1 – 13 ridge count = Inner (I)
14 or more ridge count = Outer (O)
 RIDGE TRACING FOR WHORLS:
• Inner (I) – when the traced ridge is inside or outside or in front of the right delta and three (3) or more
ridge cross or touch the imaginary line drawn between the right delta and traced ridge.

• Meeting (M) – when the traced ridge is in front or below the right delta consisting two (2) or less
ridges that cross or touch the imaginary line drawn between the right delta and traced ridge.

• Outer (O) – when the traced ridge passes outside (below) the right delta and three (3) or more ridges
cross or touch the imaginary line drawn between the right delta and traced ridge.

Note: The right hand shall serve as the numerators while the left hand as the denominators. On the case
of tented arch or plain arch, there shall be no classification on the finger when it appears and it will be
represented by dash (-)
EXAMINATION # 1:
This is an example illustrating the sub-secondary in addition to other divisions of the classification formula:
Right index finger - radial loop - 12 ridge count
Right middle finger - plain whorl - O (Outer) ridge trace
Right ring finger - ulnar loop - 17 ridge count

Left index finger - plain whorl - M (Meeting) ridge trace

Left middle finger - radial loop - 18 ridge count
Left ring finger - plain whorl - I (Inner) ridge trace

Result of Sub-secondary Classification = OOO MOI

Result of Primary, Secondary and Sub-Secondary Classification

= 5 R OOO
12 W MOI
 EXAMINATION # 2:

Result: Sub-Secondary Classification = IOI

OIM
 MAJOR CLASSIFICATION
- This division is derived from ridge count of loops and ridge trace of whorls of
both thumbs. It is written on leftmost part of the classification line before the primary
classification

Symbols for Loops: Symbol for Whorls:

S – Small I – Inner
M – Medium M – Meeting
L – Large O – Outer
 RIDGE COUNT AND LETTER
SYMBOLS FOR LOOPS
Table 1
1. Ridge count of 1 to 11, Small (S)
2. Ridge count of 12 to 16, Medium (M)
3. Ridge count of 17 or more, Large (L)

Table 2
- Loop pattern in both hands. To be applied only to the loop from the right thumb when the ridge count of the
loop from the left thumb is 17 or more, making it large (L)

1. Ridge count of 1 - 17, Small (S)

2. Ridge count of 18 – 22, Medium (M)
3. Ridge count of 23 or more, Large (L)
- When both hands are loop and the left thumb is large (L) use or apply table 2 for the right thumb.
 EXAMPLE # 1:

The right thumb is radial loop with ridge count of 13 and the left thumb is radial loop with ridge count
of 16. Therefor, table 1 was used to determine the letter symbols for both thumbs:

Major Classification = M
M

Note: The right thumb is the numerator while the left thumb is the denominator.
 EXAMPLE # 2:

The right thumb is radial loop with ridge count of 13 and the left thumb is ulnar loop with
ridge count of 17. Table 2 was used to determine the letter symbol of the right thumb:

Major Classification = S
L
- When the left thumb is Large (L) use or apply table 2 for the right thumb
 EXAMPLE # 3:

The right thumb is central pocket loop whorl with ridge trace of outer (O) and
the left thumb is plain whorl with ridge trace of inner (I).

Major Classification = O
I
 EXAMPLE # 4:

The right thumb is plain whorl with ridge trace of inner (I) and the left thumb is
ulnar loop with ridge count of 18.

Major Classification = I
L
 EXAMPLE # 5:

Classification of Major, Primary, Secondary, Sub-Secondary:

= S 2 rR—t IMI
L 10 Rr OIM
 FINAL CLASSIFICATION
• This refers to ridge count of a loop appearing at the right little finger. It is exhibited or place at the
extreme right of the classification line.
• If a loop does not appear in the right little finger, a loop in the left little finger may be used. It is then
indicated at the extreme right of the denominator.
Rules when there is no loop in the little fingers:
1. A whorl may be used to obtain a final, ridge counting from left delta to core if in the right hand and
from right delta to core if in the left hand. (In ridge counting plain whorl and central pocket loop whorl
treat them as an ulnar loop)
2. If there are two or more cores (usually applies to accidental whorls), the ridge count is made from left
delta (right hand) or right delta (left hand) to the core which is the least number of ridges distant from
that delta.
3. The double loop is counted from the delta to the core of the upright loop. Where loops of a double
loop are horizontal, the nearest core is used.
4. If both little fingers be Plain Arch and Tented Arch, no final is used.
 EXAMPLE:

The right little finger is a radial loop with ridge count of

12. The final classification is 12. It is exhibited or place at
the extreme right of the classification line.
 KEY CLASSIFICATION
- It is the classification derived from the ridge counting of the first
loop that appears in one of the fingers from the thumb excluding the little fingers
of both hands.

IF NO LOOP APPEAR IN A SET OF FINGERPRINT – the first whorl is ridge

counted.
KEY IS NOT POSSIBLE – if the entire set of prints is composed of plain arches
and tented arches, the key classification cannot be obtained.

The key classification no matter where it appears is always placed to the extreme
left of the numerator of the classification formula.
 EXAMPLE:

The first ridge counting of a loop appearing in this card is

the ridge count of the left thumb with 13. Ridge counts
from both Little fingers are excluded in Key Classification.
Therefore, the key classification is 13.
 FINGERPRINT CLASSIFICATION:
Key Major Primary Secondary Sub- Final
Secondary

13 M 26 W--r MIM 12

M 26 Rr OIM
 FILING SEQUENCE

Filing of Fingerprint Cards must be arranged

according to its classification, filing begins with the
primary classification, secondary classification,
sub-secondary classification, major classification,
final and key.
 PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION
It starts with the denominator 1
with numerator 1 up to 32, such as
1/1, 2/1, 3/1, and so on. Followed
by denominator 2; ½, 2/2 up to
32/2 until 32/32 will be reached.
 SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION
• The filling in secondary classification just simply follows the A, T, R, U, W, C, D, X. File all plain
arch (A) up to accidental whorl (X), as illustrated below:
 SUB-SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION
The filing follows the sequence of I, M, O both numerator and denominator, the sequences are
as follows.
MAJOR CLASSIFICATION
 FINAL CLASSIFICATION

The final classification must be filed

in numerical sequence from 1 up to
the numbers of prints to be filed.
 KEY CLASSIFICATION

It is very easy in filling the key, just determined the

designated key and arranged the group according to
its numerical sequence.
THANK YOU
GOD BLESS!