Honest answers, including the awkward ones

The polygraph profession's own research — the American Polygraph Association's 2011 meta-analysis of 38 studies — reports about 89% for a properly conducted single-issue examination and about 85% for broader multi-issue screening. Two things should be said plainly alongside that. It is the profession's own research rather than independent work, and the US National Academy of Sciences review puts the figure lower. No examiner should tell you a test is infallible. Accuracy depends on the examiner's training, how carefully the questions are written, and whether the examinee is fit to be tested. A polygraph measures physiological responses — it does not read minds.

Yes. Your appointment, your reasons for it and your results are confidential. We only release the report to the people you tell us to. Our confirmation emails are deliberately plain and never mention polygraph or lie detection in the subject line or sender name, in case someone else sees your phone. Full detail is in our privacy policy.

Yes, always. A polygraph examination is entirely voluntary. The person being tested must give informed consent in writing before we begin, and they can stop the examination at any point without giving a reason. We will not test anyone who has been pressured, threatened or misled into attending — and if that becomes apparent on the day, we will end the appointment.

Polygraph evidence is not accepted by the criminal or family courts in England and Wales, and we will never tell you otherwise. People use these tests privately — to settle something between themselves, to decide whether to continue a relationship, or to give a family some certainty. If your situation involves a legal case, please take advice from a solicitor first.

Allow around two hours for a single-issue examination. Most of that time is the pre-test interview, where we agree the exact questions with you. The recorded part of the test itself is a much smaller portion of the appointment. A couples test, where two people are examined, takes longer.

You will be met privately, offered a drink, and given time to settle. We explain exactly how the equipment works and what will happen, go through the consent forms, and then agree the questions together — you will see and approve every question before it is asked. Nothing is sprung on you. See how it works for the full sequence.

Yes. You must be 18 or over — that is a hard limit with no parental-consent route around it. We do not test women who are pregnant. You must not have taken alcohol or recreational drugs in the 24 hours before the test. Certain medical conditions and some medications also prevent a valid examination, so it is paramount that you tell the examiner about any condition or medication beforehand. A thorough pre-test is carried out on the day to establish whether the examination can go ahead at all.

At whichever of our offices suits you best — we have locations in Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Sheffield, Barnsley and Derby, and you choose one when you book. We do not carry out tests in people's homes. A quiet, private, controlled room is a genuine requirement of a valid examination — background noise, interruptions and other people in the house all affect the recording. It is also more discreet for you.

A written report setting out the questions asked and the examiner's opinion on each. We will talk you through it before you leave, and you will receive it in writing within 24 hours of the examination, by email to the examinee only. The report belongs to you.

A single-examinee test is £490 and a couples test is £690. A non-refundable booking fee of £150 per examinee secures your slot — £150 for a single test, £300 for a couples test — and the balance must reach us no later than 48 hours before the appointment. If you book within 24 hours of the examination, the full amount is payable up front. There are no hidden charges, and we will always confirm the full cost before you commit. See the pricing page for the full breakdown.

Yes. We go through the outcome with you before you leave, and the written report follows. We will also be honest with you if a test produced an inconclusive result — that does happen, and it is not the same as a failed test.

Almost everyone is, and it does not make you look guilty. Nervousness about the situation affects the whole recording rather than particular questions, and the technique is designed with that in mind. Take your time in the pre-test interview — it exists partly so that you are comfortable before anything is recorded.