DOI: 10.

17354/ijpphs/2015/05
Original Article

Assessment of Correlation of Lip Print with Gender and

Blood Group among Dental Students of Visnagar, Gujarat,
India
Rahul Patel1, Umesh Kempraj2, Hiren Patel3, Sangeeta Chavan2, Madhusudan Krishna4, Rajesh Patel3

1
Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College & Hospital, Visnagar, Gujarat, India, 2Reader, Department
of Public Health Dentistry, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College & Hospital, Visnagar, Gujarat, India, 33rd Year Postgraduate student, Department of
Public Health Dentistry, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College & Hospital, Visnagar, Gujarat, India, 4Professor and Head, Department of Public Health
Dentistry, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College & Hospital, Visnagar, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT
Background: Human identification is necessary for personal, social, and legal reasons. Some methods of personal identification
include anthropometry, dactyloscopy, DNA test, fingerprinting, sex determination, estimation of age, measurement of height,
post-mortem reports, blood groups, and lip print. The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation of lip print pattern
with gender and ABO blood group.
Materials and Methods: A study was conducted among 233 undergraduate dental students of Visnagar of Gujarat state,
India during the month of May, 2014. Lipstick was used to record lip print of each subject. To identify the blood group of study
subjects, a drop blood of each subject was placed on a slide and mixed with anti-A, anti-B, and anti-Rh sera.
Results: Type II (A branched groove) pattern was to be found more in both male (44.2%) and female (31.5%). Type II (A branched
groove) pattern was to be found more among study subjects with blood Group A (29.4%), B (37.3%), and O (37.1%) blood
group. No correlation was found between lip print and blood group.
Conclusion: The present study did not show any statistical correlation of lip print pattern with gender and ABO blood groups.

Key words: ABO blood group system, Gender identity, Informed consent, Lip, Rh-Hr blood-group system

INTRODUCTION individual.2,6 In 1981, Cottone reported that cheiloscopy is used

as a special technique for the purpose of personal identification.7
Human identification is the recognition of an individual based
on some physical characteristics of the individual. It involves The blood group system was discovered in 1901 by Karl
some normal or abnormal characteristics that define an Landsteiner. Totally, 19 major groups have been identified in
individual. Human identification is necessary in some conditions humans. Among these only “ABO” and “Rhesus” groups are
such as social identification, criminal identification, and during used in the majority of time. The presence of antigen in plasma,
natural disaster.1 Different methods such as lip print, DNA “ABO” system is classified as A, B, AB, and O blood groups.
test, fingerprint, sex determination, measurement of weight, The presence of “D” antigen in plasma, “Rhesus” system is
measurement of height, post-mortem reports, and blood classified into “Rh +ve” and “Rh −ve.”8
groups are used to identify individual. Lip prints can be used as No correlation of lip print with gender and blood group is
one of the reliable method for personal identification.2-4 the null hypothesis and the presence of correlation of lip print
The lip has many elevations and depressions. The study with gender and blood group is the alternative hypothesis for
of lip prints is called cheiloscopy.5 Tsuchihashi and Suzuki the present study. Though extensive research work has been
established that the lip print is always unique for every carried out regarding cheiloscopy and blood group system

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Rahul Patel,
Department of Public Health Dentistry,
Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College & Hospital, Visnagar- 384 315, Gujarat, India.
E-mail: [email protected]

Submission: 04-2015; Peer Review: 05-2015; Acceptance: 06-2015; Publication: 06-2015;

14 International Journal of Preventive and Public Health Sciences • May-June 2015 • Vol 1 • Issue 1
 www.ijpphs.com Patel, et al.: Correlation of Lip Print with Gender and Blood Group

independently; combined study correlating the two entities A drop of blood of each study subject was mixed with
are very few. Hence, to bring forth, further correlation between anti-A, anti-B, and anti-Rh sera on the slide. A positive reaction
cheiloscopy and blood group system, the present study has with anti-A, anti-B, both anti-A and anti-B are considered as
been carried out to assess correlation of lip print pattern with
gender and ABO blood group among dental students of
Visnagar city of Gujarat, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study was conducted among 233 undergraduate dental
students of Visnagar city of Gujarat state during the month of
May, 2014. Prior to the study, ethical clearance was obtained
from the ethical committee. Written informed consent was
obtained from the study subjects. A single calibrated trained
interviewer described the purpose and process of the study to
the participants and recorded lip print. The examination was
done on a simple chair and in daylight. Before the main study,
the pilot study was done on the 20% participants.
Inclusion Criteria
1. Subjects willing to participate in the study,
2. Subjects were ready to provide informed consent,
3. Subjects without any inflammatory disease, trauma, Figure 1: Application of lipstick

malformation, deformity or scars on the lip.

Exclusion Criteria
1. The subjects undergoing orthodontic treatment, the
presence of congenital lip abnormalities, inflammation or
trauma of lips, hypersensitivity to lipsticks were excluded
from the study.
Study Materials
1. Commercially available lipstick and lip brushes,
2. Cellophane tape that was transparent and glued on one
side,
3. White bond paper,
4. Magnifying lens,
5. Tissue paper,
6. Anti-A sera, anti-B sera, anti-Rh sera, and slides for ABO
blood group testing.
Techniques
The lips of the subjects were cleaned, and a pink lipstick was Figure 2: Transparent cellophane tape placement
applied uniformly (Figure 1). To maintain hygiene separate lip
print was used for each subject. After that, the glued portion
of the transparent cellophane tape was placed on the lip in the
normal rest position (Figure 2). After that, removed cellophane
strip was stuck on the white bond paper, and serial number
was written on paper for a permanent record. The subject was
provided with tissue paper to clean the lips. Care was taken to
avoid any wrinkles and air bubbles. A magnifying lens was used
to analyze lip print during the same day of lip print impression.
The patterns were studied along the entire length and breadth
of an impression. Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification were
used to classify lip prints2,6 (Figure 3).
1. Type I – A clear cut groove running vertically across
the lip
2. Type I’ – Partial length groove of Type I
3. Type II – A branched groove
4. Type III – An intersected groove
5. Type IV – A reticular pattern
6. Type V – Undetermined. Figure 3: Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification for lip prints

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blood group A, B, AB, respectively. The absence of reaction Table 3 shows the distribution of study subjects based on
with both anti-A and anti-B is considered as blood group O. lip print pattern and Rh factors. Type II (A branched groove)
Similarly, positive agglutination reaction with Rh antigen is pattern was to be found more common among study subjects
considered as Rh +ve and the absence of reaction with Rh with “+ve” (35.3%) blood group while Type I (clear cut groove
antigen is considered as Rh −ve (Figure 4). running vertically across the lip) pattern was to be found more
Statistical Analysis common among study subjects with “−ve” (33.3%) blood
group. There was not a significant association between lip print
The collected data were tabulated using Excel 2007 and
analysis performed using Statistical Package for the Social pattern and Rh factors (P = 0.312).
Sciences 16.0 version developed by IBM Corporation, USA. Table 4 shows the distribution of study subjects based on
Pearson Chi-square test and contingency coefficient test were lip print pattern and ABO blood group with Rh factor. Type II
used. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. (A branched groove) pattern was to be found more common
among study subjects with A +ve (29.0%), B +ve (37.0%),
RESULTS O +ve (39.5%) blood group. Type I’ (Partial length groove of
Type I) pattern was to be found more common among study
Table 1 shows the distribution of study subjects based on lip print
subjects with AB +ve (27.3%) blood group while Type I (clear
pattern and gender. Type II (A branched groove) pattern (34.3%)
cut groove running vertically across the lip) pattern was to
was the most common while Type III (An intersected groove)
be found more common among study subjects with AB −ve
pattern (5.2%) was the least common among study subjects.
(80.0%) blood group. There was not a significant association
Type II (A branched groove) pattern was to be found more in both
between lip print pattern and ABO blood group with Rh factor
male (44.2%) and female (31.5%). There was not a significant
(P = 0.507).
association between lip print pattern and gender (P = 0.256).
Table 2 shows the distribution of study subjects based
on lip print pattern and ABO blood group. Type II (A branched
DISCUSSION
groove) pattern was to be found more among study subjects The present study was conducted to assess the relationship
with blood group A (29.4%), B (37.3%), and O (37.1%) blood of lip print with gender and ABO blood group among dental
group while Type I (clear cut groove running vertically across students of Visnagar city of Gujarat, India. It is a method of
the lip) pattern was to be found more among subjects with AB identification of a person based on the arrangement of lines
(25.9%) blood group. There was not a significant association on the lips. In the present study, Type II pattern was the most
between lip print pattern and ABO blood group (P = 0.842). predominant among both male and female subjects. The result
was similar to study done by Gondivkar et al.9 and contradictory
from the study was done by Multani et al.10 (Type III was a
predominant pattern among male and Type I among female).
Patel et al. stated that Type I was the most prominent pattern

Table 2: Distribution of study subjects based on lip print pattern and ABO
blood group
Lip print A (%) B (%) AB (%) O (%) Total (%)
Type I 3 (8.8) 11 (13.3) 7 (25.9) 16 (18.0) 37 (15.9)
Type I’ 7 (20.6) 20 (24.1) 6 (22.2) 15 (16.9) 48 (20.6)
Type II 10 (29.4) 31 (37.3) 6 (22.2) 33 (37.1) 80 (34.3)
Type III 2 (5.9) 4 (4.8) 2 (7.4) 4 (4.5) 12 (5.2)
Type IV 5 (14.7) 7 (8.4) 3 (11.1) 11 (12.4) 26 (11.2)
Type V 7 (20.6) 10 (12.0) 3 (11.1) 10 (11.2) 30 (12.9)
Total 34 (100.0) 83 (100.0) 27 (100.0) 89 (100.0) 233 (100.0)
P=0.842 non-significant, Correlation value=0.199
Figure 4: Blood group testing

Table 3: Distribution of study subjects based on lip print pattern and Rh

Table 1: Distribution of study subjects based on lip print pattern and gender factors
Lip print Male (%) Female (%) Total (%) Lip print +ve (%) −ve (%) Total (%)
Type I 9 (17.3) 28 (15.5) 37 (15.9) Type I 30 (14.4) 6 (33.3) 37 (15.9)
Type I’ 5 (9.6) 43 (23.8) 48 (20.6) Type I’ 45 (20.9) 3 (16.7) 48 (20.6)
Type II 23 (44.2) 57 (31.5) 80 (34.3) Type II 76 (35.3) 4 (22.2) 80 (34.3)
Type III 2 (3.8) 10 (5.5) 12 (5.2) Type III 12 (5.6) 0 (0.0) 12 (5.2)
Type IV 7 (13.5) 19 (10.5) 26 (11.2) Type IV 24 (11.2) 2 (11.1) 26 (11.2)
Type V 6 (11.5) 24 (13.3) 30 (12.9) Type V 27 (12.6) 3 (16.7) 30 (12.9)
Total 100 (100.0) 100 (100.0) 233 (100.0) Total 215 (100.0) 18 (100.0) 233 (100.0)
P=0.256 non-significant, Correlation value=0.165 P=0.312 non-significant, Correlation value=0.185

16 International Journal of Preventive and Public Health Sciences • May-June 2015 • Vol 1 • Issue 1
 www.ijpphs.com Patel, et al.: Correlation of Lip Print with Gender and Blood Group

Table 4: Distribution of study subjects based on lip print pattern and ABO blood group with Rh factor
Thumb print A+VE (%) A-VE (%) B+VE (%) B-VE (%) AB+VE (%) AB-VE (%) O+VE (%) O-VE (%) Total (%)
Type I 3 (9.7) 0 (0.0) 11 (13.6) 0 (0.0) 3 (13.6) 4 (80.0) 14 (17.3) 2 (25.0) 37 (15.9)
Type I’ 6 (19.4) 1 (33.3) 20 (24.7) 0 (0.0) 6 (27.3) 0 (0.0) 13 (16.0) 2 (25.0) 48 (20.6)
Type II 9 (29.0) 1 (33.3) 30 (37.0) 1 (50.0) 5 (22.7) 1 (20.0) 32 (39.5) 1 (12.5) 80 (34.3)
Type III 2 (6.5) 0 (0.0) 4 (4.9) 0 (0.0) 2 (9.1) 0 (0.0) 4 (4.9) 0 (0.0) 12 (5.2)
Type IV 5 (16.1) 0 (0.0) 6 (7.4) 1 (50.0) 3 (13.6) 0 (0.0) 10 (12.3) 1 (12.5) 26 (11.2)
Type V 6 (19.4) 1 (33.3) 10 (12.3) 0 (0.0) 3 (13.6) 0 (0.0) 8 (9.9) 2 (25.0) 30 (12.9)
Total 31 (100) 3 (100) 81 (100) 2 (100) 22 (100) 5 (100) 81 (100) 8 (100) 233 (100)
P=0.507 non-significant, Correlation value=0.358

among male subjects and Type II among female subjects.11 by Verma et al.14 in Rajasthan, Telagi21 in South India, and
Sharma et al. concluded that Type I and Type I’ lip patterns Sandhu22 in Punjab.
were most commonly seen in female and that Type IV was
seen most commonly in males.12 A study was done by Srilekha CONCLUSION
et al. showed that Type I was predominant among females and
The present study concluded that the Type II (branched groove)
Types I and IV among predominant in males. This may have
was the most predominant lip print pattern. Both the O +ve and
occurred due to inter- observer mystification in the classification
B +ve blood group were equally predominant among subjects.
of reticular and intersecting types. Various studies have
The present study did not show any statistical correlation of lip
shown that the lip print patterns formed revealed a population
print pattern with gender and ABO blood groups.
wise dominance that is a particular population is showing a
predominance of a particular lip print type. This is potentially
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