Live scan fingerprinting refers to both the technique and the technology used by law enforcement agencies and private facilities to capture fingerprints and palm prints electronically, without the need for the more traditional method of ink and paper.[1]
In the United States, most law enforcement agencies use live scan as their primary tool in the recognition of human individuals. Live scan results can be verified and returned to the source within 72 hours of transmission. [2]
In the UK, many major police custody suites are now equipped with Live Scan machines, which allow for suspects' fingerprints to be instantly compared with a national database, IDENT1, with results usually reported in less than ten minutes.
It is important to clean live scan "equipment regularly and calibrate routinely per the manufacturers guidelines, to ensure the quality and integrity of the fingerprint images."[3]