The tips of our fingers are covered with tiny, swirling ridges and valleys that make up an individual imprint. These ridges form an exclusive pattern to each individual on the planet and are even more unique than DNA. Because these impressions are so individualized, they are globally used as a form of identification.

While advancements in technology allow for digital fingerprinting, the traditional ink-based fingerprint is still widely utilized today. Used mostly for state-identification, immigration, school administration and background screening, ink fingerprinting is necessary for organizational and regulatory safety and security. For this reason, the only establishments that can offer ink fingerprinting in the U.S. are police stations and licensed third-party vendors specializing in ink fingerprinting services.

Getting an ink fingerprint taken is easy; but for the technician, getting the print correctly is a unique skill. Trained professionals help the applicant through the process, first asking the applicant to wash and dry his/her hands, and then gently rolling one finger at a time on an inkpad. Guiding the applicant’s fingers carefully through multiple sections of a fingerprint card, the technician presses or gently rolls each print in the designated areas slowly to get perfectly clean and usable prints.

Depending on the purpose, multiple cards may be required, repeating the process until all the cards are filled with clearly visible fingerprints. Although filling out a fingerprint card doesn’t take more than a few minutes to complete, the collection of fingerprints on a card is a slow and delicate process to ensure pristine quality.

First Contact HR offers both Cogent digital FBI fingerprinting and ink fingerprinting services in the Greater Philadelphia area. First Contact HR also provides mobile, on -site client fingerprinting to organizations that require convenience, privacy, or a large number of cards or subjects to be fingerprinted.

The fingerprinting technicians at First Contact HR are highly skilled individuals who take the utmost care in processing fingerprints and have done so for organizations large and small.

For additional information on conducting ink fingerprinting, Cogent digital fingerprinting, or to find out if you qualify for mobile fingerprinting, call First Contact HR at (267) 419 -1390.