1. A method for confirming the identity of an individual while shielding that individual's personal data, comprising the steps of: enrolling, by a biometric matching server in communication with a biometric acquisition device and a central database, a first individual by using the biometric acquisition device to acquire iris biometrics of the first individual and storing the iris biometrics in a record of the central database; assigning, by the biometric matching server for storage with the iris biometrics in the record, a unique identification code that is different from the iris biometrics, to the iris biometrics without reference to the first individual's personal information; storing, by the biometric matching server, the unique identification code with the iris biometrics in the record of the central database; performing, by the biometric matching server in communication with the central database, biometric matching of subsequent iris biometrics with contents of the central database including the stored iris biometrics; if a match by the biometric matching server between the subsequent iris biometrics is found with the stored iris biometrics responsive to the biometric matching, transmitting, by the biometric matching server, the unique identification code stored with the iris biometrics from the central database to a second individual requesting access to information in the record, and notifying a person authorized to permit access to the information in the record to those having the unique identification code; issuing on a physical object to the first individual, the unique identification code; when a match is found responsive to the comparing, performing the transmitting by transmitting the unique identification code to a merchant with which the first individual is attempting to make a transaction; and when a match is found between the transmitted identification code and the identification code on the physical object presented at the merchant, enabling authorization of the transaction by the merchant.