Preparation
Before you come
Come as yourself. The useful preparation is ordinary and honest. It is not a set of tactics.
- Get a normal night of sleep, so you can listen and answer clearly.
- Take prescribed medications as usual, and tell the examiner what you take. In most cases you should continue prescribed medications as directed by your physician—do not stop medication without medical advice just for a test. The medication FAQ has the fuller note, including other substances that can affect an EyeDetect recording.
- Eat as you normally would. Skipping meals to change how you feel is not useful preparation.
- Bring a government-issued photo identification (photo ID).
Do not try to beat the exam. Tricks meant to change the recording are not preparation, and they can invalidate a test. Do not use pupil-dilating or constricting eye drops as a trick—abnormal pupil behavior is detectable and can invalidate a test. The fair approach is to understand each question and answer it truthfully.
Arrival
Arriving at 1224 Mill Street, Building B
Office exams are by appointment only, at 1224 Mill Street, Building B, East Berlin, Connecticut 06023. Please come at the time we set with you. If you are not sure how to find Building B, call (860) 515-8039 before you travel and we will direct you.
On-site exams are available across Connecticut, New York State, and New Jersey. We agree on that location when we schedule.
Before the recording
The pre-test interview and reviewing questions
The visit starts with a conversation, not with a score. The examiner reviews each question with you in plain language. This is the time to say that a word is unclear, a date is wrong, or you need something repeated. Instructions happen before the scored portion so you know what to expect.
If you do not understand a question, say so before the scored part begins. Understanding the questions is essential for a valid exam. Tests can be administered in over 40 languages. Tell us your preferred language when you book.
You can also ask, before you begin, exactly who will receive the report. For a relationship exam, consent and single-issue questions are explained on the couples polygraph page.
The exam
The recorded part: polygraph and EyeDetect
What is recorded depends on the method chosen for your exam.
For a traditional polygraph, the examiner conducts the exam. Sensors record cardiovascular activity, respiration, and electrodermal activity (changes in the skin’s electrical conductance) while you answer the questions you reviewed.
For EyeDetect, you sit at a computer station and answer true/false or yes/no questions. An infrared camera records involuntary eye behavior from a short distance. Nothing is placed in your eyes. EyeDetect+ adds physiological sensors and is built to be less intrusive than a traditional polygraph’s full sensor set. The technology page compares the methods.
Many exams here use successive hurdles: a computer-scored EyeDetect or EyeDetect+ screen first, then a traditional polygraph on the one issue that remains, and one written report. How successive hurdles works is written out with sources.
Please use the restroom before the scored exam begins. Once an automated test is running, interrupting can affect data quality. If something urgent happens, tell the examiner using the procedure we explain at the start. We will give you a time estimate when you schedule. How long a test takes depends on the method; that answer is in the FAQ.
Afterward
Results and the report
When the exam is finished, the outcome is explained professionally and in confidence. A written report goes to the person or attorney who requested the exam.
We only share results with parties who are authorized for that exam. We will not casually disclose your results to a spouse, partner, employer, or anyone else without the proper authorization. Ask us to explain exactly who will receive the report before you begin. The same confidentiality wording is in the FAQ on who receives results.
Ask when you schedule how the written report will be delivered for your exam.
Comfort
Nerves and anxiety
Feeling nervous before a credibility test is normal—and expected. Protocols are designed around patterns associated with deception-related cognitive load, not ordinary anxiety alone. Being calm helps you read and respond clearly, but nervousness by itself is not the same as a “fail.” We walk you through the process, answer questions beforehand, and create a professional, low-pressure environment. If you have a diagnosed anxiety condition or panic history, mention it when you schedule so we can prepare appropriately.
That answer is also in the FAQ: “I’m a really nervous person; will that affect the results?”
