title: A study of lip prints and its reliability as a forensic tool.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lip prints, like fingerprints, are unique to an individual and can be easily recorded. Therefore, we compared direct and indirect lip print patterns in males and females of different age groups, studied the inter- and intraobserver bias in recording the data, and observed any changes in the lip print patterns over a period of time, thereby, assessing the reliability of lip prints as a forensic tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty females and 50 males in the age group of 15 to 35 years were selected for the study. Lips with any deformity or scars were not included. Lip prints were registered by direct and indirect methods and transferred to a preformed registration sheet. Direct method of lip print registration was repeated after a six-month interval. All the recorded data were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The predominant patterns were vertical and branched. More females showed the branched pattern and males revealed an equal prevalence of vertical and reticular patterns. There was an interobserver agreement, which was 95%, and there was no change in the lip prints over time. Indirect registration of lip prints correlated with direct method prints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lip prints can be used as a reliable forensic tool, considering the consistency of lip prints over time and the accurate correlation of indirect prints to direct prints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Yogendra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Arouquiaswamy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Einstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, VYWS Dental College and Hospital, Amravati, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gondhalekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anoop K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Babu Banarasi Das College of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jiji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Shaleen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Fahad M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Samadi
keywords: Cheiloscopy; forensic; identification; indirect prints; lip prints