A set of Search identification points (16) derived from an optical scan (12) of a finger are compared against File identification (18) points for the same finger. A multiple comparator (20) divides the finger image into multiple segments. The Search and File points from each segment are compared separately. A difference table (D.T.) (22) provides a proximity value Q for each search point. The D.T. is purged (28, 30) of all entries representing multiple Search points. The purge keeps those entries having the highest Q value. The purged D.T. with recalculated Q values is the basis for correcting the position of each Search point on the image plane to compensate for shift in finger position and for the variable distortion and changes that come about in a finger over time and upon successive applications of the finger to input scan (40). The corrected Search points are compared against the File points to establish a new D.T. A proximity value Q for each entry on this D.T. is calculated and a proximity value Q for the entire table is calculated. These proximity values in view of the number of entries on the difference table are used to verify identification in a scoring routine (52).