Differences in the descriptive metrics and coordinate systems of the following are described: The British Home Office's system developed by Logics, Ltd.; the FBI's system and the DeLaRue Printrak, Inc. fingerprint reader; Morpho Systemes used by the French; and the NEC Information System. Approved in 1986, the ANSI standard defines four types of records that may be used in the exchange of fingerprint information. After reviewing the benefits of benchmark testing for potential users of automated fingerprint equipment, difficulties in searching latent prints are compared to rolled fingerprints and specific suggestions on making performance comparisons are offered. Measures considered include matching scores, estimating the consistency of reader performance, and estimating the reliability and selectivity curve of the system as developed from the common benchmark data base. Diagrams and 1 reference.