What happens when I take a lie detector test?
Thursday 11th May 2023
EM
We receive many calls and emails from clients who wish to know what is involved. Below we have provided a brief run-down of what happens when you take a lie detector test and the process that follows.
Making your booking
To proceed with your booking, we require a non-refundable booking fee to be paid. This secures your date and time and ensures the office will not offer it to anyone else. The remainder of the payment is due 48 hours before your test date.
Once your booking fee has been paid, we will send you an online form to complete to tell us if you are taking any medications of any kind and to agree to our terms and conditions. For example, you will be unable to drink alcohol or take any non-prescribed drugs 24 hours before the test is completed.
There are two ways to pay your remaining balance: it can be transferred directly to the examiner with the bank details highlighted at the bottom of the form that we send to you or by the final payment link we send following the receipt of your booking fee.
We are happy for you to pay in either way, whichever makes you feel more comfortable. We do accept the remaining payment at a venue, but this is only at the Evesham office, which is just outside of Birmingham.
Does medication affect the test?
If you are taking medication, please respond to us via email or call, so we can confirm if it would affect the test. Very few medications do affect test results, but severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or conditions like Epilepsy could, therefore it is always wise to check before booking.
What happens when you take a lie detector test?
On the day, you will have an opportunity to sit down with your examiner and discuss what questions you would like to be asked. If you have your own, the examiner may need to reword them slightly into a format the equipment will understand, if you are unsure the examiner will suggest some for you. Either way, they are your questions and unique to your situation, however there are recommended sets of questions for things such as infidelity or theft, but the decision is yours if you would like to use them. You will be permitted to have someone to support you in this session, however they cannot accompany you to the test itself.
It is important to remember that you can only be tested on one issue at a time. You cannot mix issue such as infidelity or theft of money on the same test.
What questions can be asked?
Please be aware that your questions must be based on facts. Questions about beliefs, intentions or feelings are not able to be tested for. All questions must have a yes or no answer.
The physical test
After your informal pre-test consultation, you will be ready to be connected to the polygraph instrument. This process is not invasive (over your clothing) and each step will be explained to you upon attachment. The examiner will ensure you have a full understanding of the process and what is about to happen. This is also an additional opportunity for you to speak to your examiner and ask any further questions that may arise.
During a polygraph examination, the polygraph instrument detects, measures, and records physiological data obtained from three major systems in the human body, all of which are controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System:
1) Respiratory System: Respiratory activity patterns and changes
2) Cardiovascular System: Heart rate, relative blood pressure, blood volume
3) Electrodermal System: Galvanic skin response, i.e., sweat gland activity
You will be asked a series of test questions during the examination; the questions will be neutral questions, relevant questions, and questions of a comparative nature, relevant to your case that are required to analyse your reactions when you are being deceptive and when you are not. These will be mixed in with test questions agreed with your examiner in the consultation.
When do you get your results?
Once the test has been completed, your examiner will always endeavour to give you a verbal result before you leave, however this isn't always possible. This does not mean the test has been failed, but just that your examiner wishes to review the charts before providing their answer. Your result will be returned to you the same day. Please be aware, the examiner travels to complete your appointments and he will need to return to his office before he can write up your report and send it to you.
The service does not stop there, and any questions or clarifications can be asked of your examiner, as they will always provide you with their personal details to contact them directly. Please be aware that examiners are testing every day and therefore if you call the team in the office, we will be able to get you a call back window faster than leaving a message with the examiner.
I'm happy with what happens when I take a lie detector test, How do I book one?
We hope that this blog has provided you with some information on what happens when you take a lie detector test, however we are happy to answer any further questions you may have. If you feel that you need our help and that a lie detector test could help resolve the issues you are facing, please contact us directly by calling our dedicated Customer Support Team on 0800 774 7268 or visit us online.
