Polygraph Post-Test Interview: Goals, Techniques & Rights

Defining the Post-Test Phase

A polygraph examination is not a single event — it is a structured, multi-phase forensic process. The post-test interview is the third and final phase, following the pre-test interview and the in-test (chart collection) phase. It begins the moment the last polygraph chart is collected and the examiner removes the physiological sensors from the examinee.

During this phase, the examiner reviews the physiological data recorded during testing, applies a validated scoring methodology — either manually using the 7-position scoring scale or with the assistance of automated scoring algorithms such as the OSS-3 [1]Verified Objective Scoring System – Version 3 (OSS-3)
Confirms the OSS-3 algorithm is based on validated polygraph testing principles with demonstrable validity across multiple samples — and arrives at a preliminary diagnostic opinion. That opinion typically falls into one of three categories: No Deception Indicated (NDI), Deception Indicated (DI), or Inconclusive (INC) [2]Verified APA Standards of Practice
Confirms APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases, minimum 90-minute scheduling, three-year document retention, and transparent result communication.

What happens next depends entirely on that preliminary result. If the charts show no deception, the post-test is brief and largely administrative. If deception is indicated, the examiner may transition into a more structured interview designed to obtain clarifications or admissions relevant to the questions that triggered significant physiological responses. Every properly conducted polygraph follows a standardized multi-phase format established by the American Polygraph Association (APA) and codified in ASTM standards, including ASTM E2062-11(2017), the Standard Guide for PDD Examination Standards of Practice [3]Verified ASTM E2062-11(2017) Standard Guide for PDD Examination Standards of Practice
Confirms ASTM E2062 establishes essential and recommended elements in procedures for the conduct of a PDD examination.

Why the Post-Test Matters More Than You Think

Many people focus their preparation exclusively on the pre-test and in-test phases, assuming the exam ends once the sensors come off. In reality, the post-test interview is where the examination's most meaningful outcomes often take shape.

Confessions and admissions frequently occur during the post-test. An OTA report to Congress found that confirmation of deceptive exam results across federal agencies was primarily through pre- or post-test confessions and admissions [4]Verified Scientific Validity of Polygraph Testing: A Research Review and Evaluation
Confirms that NSA uses polygraph primarily as a technique to encourage admissions during pretest and posttest phases, and that confession/admission data are the primary confirmation of deceptive results. The physiological data creates a framework that examiners use to encourage truthful disclosures. Results can also be adjusted during this phase — if you provide additional information that explains a deceptive response (for example, a misunderstanding of a question), the examiner may modify their diagnostic opinion.

Statements made during the post-test are documented in the examiner's report and may be shared with whoever commissioned the test — an employer, an attorney, a probation officer, or a partner. Understanding this phase is essential for anyone preparing for a polygraph exam, whether it's a private lie detector test, a police pre-employment screening, or a specific incident polygraph test. APA meta-analytic research confirms that validated polygraph techniques achieve mean accuracy rates of approximately 89% for event-specific diagnostic tests [5]Verified Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirms 89% accuracy for event-specific diagnostic tests (CI: 83–95%) and 85% for multi-issue screening across 38 studies and 3,723 examinations[6]Verified 2015 Update to the APA 2011 Meta-Analytic Survey of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirmed mean accuracy of.89 for event-specific diagnostic polygraphs (95% CI:.83–.95) and.85 for multi-issue screening (95% CI:.77–.93), which means the post-test conversation is built on a strong scientific foundation.

Understanding the Complete Examination Structure

Before exploring the post-test in detail, it helps to understand where it fits within the broader examination structure. The APA Standards of Practice require that examinations be scheduled for not less than 90 minutes [2]Verified APA Standards of Practice
Confirms APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases, minimum 90-minute scheduling, three-year document retention, and transparent result communication, and the complete process typically lasts between 90 minutes and 3 hours.

Phase 1: Pre-Test Interview (30–60 minutes). The examiner introduces themselves, explains the process, reviews every question that will be asked, obtains informed consent, discusses your medical and psychological history, and establishes rapport. The APA Standards recommend that informed consent be obtained after an overview of the polygraph process, including instrumentation, sensors, and the use of video/audio recording [2]Verified APA Standards of Practice
Confirms APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases, minimum 90-minute scheduling, three-year document retention, and transparent result communication. Ensuring question clarity and mutual understanding is a critical part of this phase.

Phase 2: In-Test / Chart Collection (15–30 minutes). Physiological sensors are attached and the examiner asks the pre-reviewed questions across multiple chart runs (typically 3 to 5). Your breathing, electrodermal activity, cardiovascular responses, and movement are recorded. The examinee sits still and answers "yes" or "no" to each question. Modern digital instruments from manufacturers such as Lafayette, Limestone, and Stoelting now incorporate built-in software that assists with data analysis [7]Verified Modern Algorithms in Polygraph Data Analysis
Confirms OSS-3 and PolyScore have demonstrated accuracy rates between 85–92% under laboratory conditions and describes how automated scoring works. Learn more about polygraph software capabilities.

Phase 3: Post-Test Interview (10–45+ minutes). Sensors are removed, charts are analyzed, and the examiner communicates the preliminary result. If deception is indicated, a structured interview may follow. A truthful examinee may be done in minutes; someone showing significant deceptive responses may spend the majority of their time in the post-test.

Rendering a Final Diagnostic Opinion

The examiner's primary obligation is to provide an accurate, defensible diagnostic opinion about whether deception was or was not indicated in response to the relevant questions. The post-test is where the examiner finalizes this opinion by reviewing the physiological data from all chart runs, applying a validated scoring system (such as the 7-position scoring scale or an automated algorithm like OSS-3), considering whether any artifacts or anomalies affected the data, and determining whether the results warrant a definitive call or should be classified as inconclusive.

The OSS-3 computerized scoring algorithm was developed by Raymond Nelson, Mark Handler, and Donald Krapohl, and is based on polygraph testing principles derived from existing research with demonstrable validity across multiple validation samples [1]Verified Objective Scoring System – Version 3 (OSS-3)
Confirms the OSS-3 algorithm is based on validated polygraph testing principles with demonstrable validity across multiple samples. A Monte Carlo study demonstrated that OSS-3 accuracy exceeded the average decision accuracy of human scorers on six dimensions of accuracy, including overall decision accuracy and sensitivity to deception [8]Verified Brute-Force Comparison: A Monte Carlo Study of OSS-3 and Human Polygraph Scorers
Confirms OSS-3 accuracy exceeded the average decision accuracy of human scorers on six dimensions of accuracy. This scoring process may happen in front of you in real time, or the examiner may step out briefly to analyze the charts in a separate area. The APA Standards of Practice state that a test result shall not be final until it is documented in the examination report and issued to the referring professional or agency [2]Verified APA Standards of Practice
Confirms APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases, minimum 90-minute scheduling, three-year document retention, and transparent result communication.

Communicating the Result

After scoring, the examiner informs you of the preliminary result. Ethical examiners will clearly state whether the charts indicate deception, no deception, or an inconclusive outcome. The way this information is communicated varies between examiners, but the APA Standards of Practice require professionalism and transparency throughout.

For truthful examinees who receive a No Deception Indicated (NDI) result, this moment can bring enormous relief. The examiner will typically explain what the result means, answer any remaining questions, and end the session. The updated 2015 APA meta-analysis confirmed mean accuracy of.89 for event-specific diagnostic polygraphs with a 95% confidence interval of.83 to.95 [6]Verified 2015 Update to the APA 2011 Meta-Analytic Survey of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirmed mean accuracy of.89 for event-specific diagnostic polygraphs (95% CI:.83–.95) and.85 for multi-issue screening (95% CI:.77–.93), underscoring that an NDI result reflects strong physiological consistency.

Seeking Clarifications, Admissions, or Confessions

When charts show deceptive responses, the examiner's goal shifts to understanding why. The questioning might explore whether you misunderstood a question during testing, whether there is something you omitted during the pre-test discussion, whether you have additional information that might explain the physiological response, or whether you are willing to provide a full accounting of events.

This is where the examiner's interpersonal skills become most important. Research has consistently demonstrated that polygraphic assessment is most valid when integrated with verbal statement analysis and nonverbal behavioral observation [9]Verified Vernehmung und non-verbale Information [Assessing validity of testimonial statements by interviewing and polygraphic techniques]
Confirms polygraphic assessment is most valid when integrated with verbal statement analysis and nonverbal behavioral observation. A skilled examiner walks the line between being empathetic enough to encourage honesty and assertive enough to challenge deception — all while staying within ethical and legal boundaries.

In criminal, PCSOT, or loss prevention contexts, the ultimate goal of a deception-indicated post-test may be to obtain a verbal or written statement documenting what happened. In therapeutic settings — particularly PCSOT programs — the goal is more about full disclosure for treatment planning than criminal confession [10]Verified Chapter 3: Polygraph for Sex Offender Management (U.S. Courts)
Confirms polygraph examinations may detect deception, deter unwanted activities, and elicit admissions, and describes PCSOT program structure. The U.S. Courts guidance notes that polygraph examinations may detect deception, deter unwanted activities, and elicit admissions of undesired activity [10]Verified Chapter 3: Polygraph for Sex Offender Management (U.S. Courts)
Confirms polygraph examinations may detect deception, deter unwanted activities, and elicit admissions, and describes PCSOT program structure.

Throughout the post-test, the examiner documents all statements, admissions, and observations. The APA Standards require that all polygraph reports, test questions, data, recordings, and documents related to the pre-test, in-test, and post-test be maintained for a minimum of three years [2]Verified APA Standards of Practice
Confirms APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases, minimum 90-minute scheduling, three-year document retention, and transparent result communication.

Rapport-Based Conversational Approach

The most widely recommended approach in modern polygraph practice. The examiner maintains the rapport established during the pre-test and uses open-ended, non-confrontational questions to encourage the examinee to share additional information. This approach aligns with the PEACE model and cognitive interviewing techniques that are gaining traction in the polygraph community [11]Verified Leading Interview and Interrogation Techniques: Focus on Cognitive Interview
Confirms the cognitive interview is scientifically validated as one of the best tools to obtain information suitable for legal proceedings[12]Verified From Ancient Oracles to Modern Techniques: The Evolution of Deception Detection and the Benefits of Investigative Interviewing
Documents how early deception detection methods established theoretical foundations for modern techniques including Strategic Use of Evidence.

Research confirms that the cognitive interview is scientifically validated as one of the best tools to obtain information suitable for legal proceedings and can be applied with victims, witnesses, or suspects [11]Verified Leading Interview and Interrogation Techniques: Focus on Cognitive Interview
Confirms the cognitive interview is scientifically validated as one of the best tools to obtain information suitable for legal proceedings. An information-gathering approach that builds rapport has been shown to increase information disclosure and produce higher amounts of valid and reliable information [13]Verified Rapport Building in Interviews and Interrogations: Translating Research to Practice
Confirms that information-gathering approaches using rapport building are associated with higher amounts of valid and reliable information.

Example: "The charts show some concern on question number 3. I want to make sure we addressed that fully. Is there anything about that topic you might have left out or weren't sure about?"

Theme Development and Minimization

The examiner may create a psychological "theme" — a rationalization or context — that makes it easier for the examinee to provide truthful information. This technique was originally associated with the Reid Technique of interrogation, developed in the 1950s by John E. Reid, who was himself a polygraph expert and former Chicago police officer [14]Verified Reid technique
Confirms the Reid Technique was developed by John E. Reid in the 1950s, who was a polygraph expert and former Chicago police officer. However, modern polygraph practice has adapted these techniques to be less confrontational.

Minimization involves downplaying the severity of the suspected deception to lower psychological barriers to honest disclosure. This technique is particularly common in PCSOT and therapeutic polygraph settings, where the goal is treatment progress rather than criminal prosecution.

Example of theme development: "A lot of people in your situation have told me that it started small. I understand how things can escalate without someone meaning for them to."

Example of minimization: "I'm not here to judge you. What matters is honesty going forward. Sometimes people do things they're not proud of, and the best way to move past it is to get it out in the open."

Direct Confrontation

The examiner states clearly that the charts indicate deception and asks the examinee to explain the discrepancy. This is a more assertive technique that may feel intense, but ethical examiners use it factually rather than accusatorily.

Example: "Based on the data I've collected, there's a clear physiological reaction to the question about whether you took the money. The charts are telling me something different from what you've told me verbally. Can you help me understand that?"

Behavioral Observation and Silence

Examiners are trained to observe behavioral indicators throughout the entire examination, but the post-test is where these observations become most valuable. Research on nonverbal behavior during forensic assessment interview tests and polygraph techniques has shown that deceptive suspects demonstrate significant variations in non-verbal behavior, while truthful individuals show normal indicators [15]Verified Interpreting non-verbal behaviour during forensic assessment interview test (FAINT) and polygraph techniques
Confirms deceptive suspects demonstrate significant variations in non-verbal behavior during polygraph testing while truthful individuals show normal indicators. Changes in posture, eye contact, speech patterns, and emotional expression are noted as the examiner discusses the results.

Sometimes the most powerful technique is silence. After posing a question, a skilled examiner will wait — even if the silence becomes uncomfortable — giving the examinee space to provide truthful statements. Research on unexpected questions in deception detection interviews has found that interviewers have flexibility in when and how they ask follow-up questions without affecting detection accuracy [16]Verified Unexpected questions in deception detection interviews: Does question order matter?
Confirms interviewers have flexibility in when they ask unexpected questions during interviews without affecting detection accuracy.

Learn more about how examiners integrate data with professional judgment in our guide on polygraph examiner intuition.

A Detailed Walkthrough of the Post-Test Phase

Step 1: Sensors Are Removed. After the final chart run, the examiner removes the pneumograph tubes from your chest and abdomen, the blood pressure cuff from your arm, and the EDA sensors from your fingers. You may be asked to remain seated while the examiner reviews the data.

Step 2: Chart Analysis Begins. The examiner reviews each chart, comparing your physiological responses to the relevant, comparison, and irrelevant questions. This may take a few minutes. Some examiners analyze charts on screen with you present; others step away briefly. Modern systems such as those incorporating the OSS-3 algorithm provide automated probability scores that indicate the likelihood of deception, calibrated to empirical accuracy thresholds [7]Verified Modern Algorithms in Polygraph Data Analysis
Confirms OSS-3 and PolyScore have demonstrated accuracy rates between 85–92% under laboratory conditions and describes how automated scoring works[8]Verified Brute-Force Comparison: A Monte Carlo Study of OSS-3 and Human Polygraph Scorers
Confirms OSS-3 accuracy exceeded the average decision accuracy of human scorers on six dimensions of accuracy.

Step 3: Preliminary Result Is Communicated. You are told whether the charts show No Deception Indicated (NDI), Deception Indicated (DI), or Inconclusive (INC). A professional examiner should explain these terms clearly and answer basic questions about what the result means.

Step 4: Follow-Up Discussion (If Applicable). If the result is NDI, the examiner may briefly review next steps and end the session. If the result is DI or INC, the examiner will likely begin asking follow-up questions to understand the cause of the physiological responses.

Step 5: Admissions or Confessions (If Applicable). If you choose to make any admissions, you may be asked to provide a written statement. This statement becomes part of the official examination record. You are never legally required to provide a written statement in a private polygraph context.

Step 6: Session Concludes. The examiner summarizes the outcome, explains the report process, and indicates when and to whom the results will be delivered. In private tests, results are typically communicated to the party who commissioned the exam. Learn more about what happens after your polygraph exam.

No Deception Indicated (NDI)

When the charts indicate no deception, the post-test experience is brief and positive, typically lasting just 5 to 10 minutes. The examiner confirms the result in clear terms. No follow-up interrogation occurs. The examiner may offer reassurance and answer any remaining questions. The written report will state NDI on all relevant questions, and results are delivered to the requesting party promptly.

This outcome is supported by validated polygraph techniques that achieve mean accuracy rates of approximately 89% for event-specific tests and 85% for multi-issue screening [5]Verified Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirms 89% accuracy for event-specific diagnostic tests (CI: 83–95%) and 85% for multi-issue screening across 38 studies and 3,723 examinations[6]Verified 2015 Update to the APA 2011 Meta-Analytic Survey of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirmed mean accuracy of.89 for event-specific diagnostic polygraphs (95% CI:.83–.95) and.85 for multi-issue screening (95% CI:.77–.93), making an NDI result a robust indicator of truthfulness.

Deception Indicated (DI)

When deception is indicated, the post-test may last 30 to 45 minutes or longer. The examiner informs you of the deceptive result and follow-up questioning begins. Techniques such as rapport-based conversation, theme development, or minimization may be used, depending on the context. You may be asked to provide clarifications or a written statement.

It is important to remember that a DI result does not automatically mean guilt — it means the examiner observed significant physiological responses to specific relevant questions. Multiple factors, including anxiety, misunderstanding of questions, or genuine physiological differences, can contribute to such results.

The Inconclusive Middle Ground

An inconclusive result means the examiner could not determine with sufficient confidence whether deception was or was not present. In these cases, the post-test may involve a brief discussion about what caused the ambiguity — perhaps anxiety, a medical condition, or a misunderstood question — and the examiner may recommend retesting at a later date.

Factors that can contribute to inconclusive results include anxiety disorders, certain medications, and physiological conditions that affect the examiner's ability to differentiate between relevant and comparison question responses. Understanding the principles of applied psychophysiology can help explain why some tests produce inconclusive outcomes.

Right to Terminate the Interview

In virtually all private polygraph testing scenarios, you have the absolute right to end the post-test interview at any time. You do not need to provide a reason. Under the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) of 1988, examinees are informed of the right to terminate the test at any time [17]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (29 USC Ch. 22)
Confirms examinees have the right to terminate the test at any time, right to review all questions, and that statements may constitute additional supporting evidence. If you feel uncomfortable or pressured, you can simply say: "I'd like to stop here." A professional examiner will respect this request.

The EPPA also provides that the examinee is not asked questions in a manner designed to degrade or needlessly intrude [17]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (29 USC Ch. 22)
Confirms examinees have the right to terminate the test at any time, right to review all questions, and that statements may constitute additional supporting evidence. These protections apply throughout all phases of the examination, including the post-test.

Right to Decline Admissions and Written Statements

You are never required to confess to anything during a polygraph post-test interview. Regardless of what the charts show, you have the right to maintain your position, decline to answer additional questions, or disagree with the examiner's interpretation. The Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination applies in government and law enforcement contexts.

If you do make verbal admissions, the examiner may ask you to write them down or sign a prepared statement. You are under no obligation to do so. Written statements carry more legal weight than verbal ones, so declining is a reasonable protective measure, especially without an attorney present. The EPPA explicitly notes that any statement made during the test may constitute additional supporting evidence for the purposes of an adverse employment action [17]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (29 USC Ch. 22)
Confirms examinees have the right to terminate the test at any time, right to review all questions, and that statements may constitute additional supporting evidence.

Right to Have an Attorney Present and Understand the Result

In criminal defense polygraph examinations, your attorney typically arranges the test and may be present for the post-test discussion. In pre-employment and government contexts, the rules vary. In PCSOT testing, the offender's treatment team or probation officer may receive the results, and attorney involvement is governed by the conditions of supervision.

You also have the right to understand your result. The APA Standards of Practice specify that examiners should communicate results clearly and professionally. You have the right to ask questions about what the result means, how it was determined, and what happens next. Learn more about polygraph evidence and legal standards in our guides on polygraph evidence in Ontario courts and R. v. Béland.

Interview: Information-Gathering Approach

A post-test interview is a conversation designed to gather information. It involves open-ended questions, empathetic listening, and non-accusatory language. The examiner is seeking to understand the examinee's perspective and clarify any ambiguities in the data.

Modern best practices favor this approach. The PEACE model — Preparation and Planning, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure and Evaluate — was developed in the early 1990s in England and Wales as a collaborative effort between law enforcement and psychologists [18]Verified PEACE method of investigative interviewing
Confirms the PEACE model was developed in Britain in the early 1990s and has been adopted by police forces in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and parts of Canada. The PEACE model has been adopted by police forces in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and parts of Canada [18]Verified PEACE method of investigative interviewing
Confirms the PEACE model was developed in Britain in the early 1990s and has been adopted by police forces in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and parts of Canada, and is increasingly influencing North American polygraph practice.

Research documents how early deception detection methods, though rooted in coercion, established theoretical foundations for modern techniques, with contemporary approaches like Strategic Use of Evidence showing superior results to accusatorial methods [12]Verified From Ancient Oracles to Modern Techniques: The Evolution of Deception Detection and the Benefits of Investigative Interviewing
Documents how early deception detection methods established theoretical foundations for modern techniques including Strategic Use of Evidence. The cognitive interview specifically has been validated as one of the best tools for obtaining reliable information [11]Verified Leading Interview and Interrogation Techniques: Focus on Cognitive Interview
Confirms the cognitive interview is scientifically validated as one of the best tools to obtain information suitable for legal proceedings.

Interrogation: Confession-Oriented Approach

An interrogation is a guilt-presumptive process designed to obtain a confession from someone the examiner believes is being deceptive. It involves more direct confrontation, theme development, and systematic challenge of the examinee's denials. The Reid Technique, developed in the 1950s by John E. Reid, is the most well-known interrogation model in the United States [14]Verified Reid technique
Confirms the Reid Technique was developed by John E. Reid in the 1950s, who was a polygraph expert and former Chicago police officer.

The Reid Technique has been widely used by police departments — the company behind it claims over 500,000 professionals have attended their training programs since 1974 [19]Verified INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES (Connecticut General Assembly Research Report)
Confirms over 500,000 law enforcement professionals have attended Reid training programs since 1974. However, modern polygraph practice has moved toward less confrontational approaches. Research has consistently found that information-gathering approaches are associated with higher amounts of valid and reliable information [13]Verified Rapport Building in Interviews and Interrogations: Translating Research to Practice
Confirms that information-gathering approaches using rapport building are associated with higher amounts of valid and reliable information, and multiple jurisdictions have implemented reforms emphasizing rapport-based interviewing over accusatorial methods [20]Verified Structured Models for Police Interviewing: PEACE, PRICE & KREATIV
Confirms PEACE model training shifted interviewing from accusatorial and confession-seeking to information-gathering and conversation management techniques.

The polygraph profession continues to evolve its post-test practices. The APA's Model Policy for Relationship Polygraph Testing (adopted August 2025) requires that examinations follow APA Standards of Practice covering all areas including audiovisual recording, test formats, analysis, and reporting [21]Verified APA Model Policy for Relationship Polygraph Testing
Confirms examinations must follow APA Standards of Practice covering audiovisual recording, test formats, analysis, and reporting. Historical perspectives on deception detection — from ancient Chinese methods to World War II OSS spy testing — show a consistent evolution toward more scientifically grounded, ethically responsible practices.

What Statements Mean Legally

Anything you say during the post-test interview can potentially be documented and used in various contexts, depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the test. In private testing, your statements may be included in a report shared with the requesting party — such as an employer, spouse, or attorney. In government and law enforcement contexts, confessions or admissions may have direct legal implications.

The NSA has noted that polygraph examination results most important to security adjudicators are the data provided by the individual during the pretest or posttest phase of the examination [4]Verified Scientific Validity of Polygraph Testing: A Research Review and Evaluation
Confirms that NSA uses polygraph primarily as a technique to encourage admissions during pretest and posttest phases, and that confession/admission data are the primary confirmation of deceptive results. This highlights that admissions made during the post-test often carry significant weight regardless of the test's physiological findings alone.

The American Psychological Association passed a resolution in 2014 on interrogations of criminal suspects, recommending that law enforcement agencies recognize the risks of eliciting false confessions through certain interrogation practices [22]Verified APA Resolution on Interrogations of Criminal Suspects
Confirms the American Psychological Association passed a 2014 resolution on interrogation of criminal suspects addressing risks of false confessions. Research has consistently shown the importance of ethical, non-coercive interviewing practices, particularly with vulnerable populations [23]Verified An American Psychology-Law Society Scientific Review Paper on Police Interrogation and Confession
Confirms the first Scientific Review Paper of AP-LS (Division 41 of APA) called for mandatory video recording of interrogations and addressed false confession risk factors.

The Role of Audio-Video Recording

The APA Standards of Practice require that an audio or audio-video recording of all phases of the exam be maintained as part of the examination files for a minimum of one year [2]Verified APA Standards of Practice
Confirms APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases, minimum 90-minute scheduling, three-year document retention, and transparent result communication. For PCSOT examinations specifically, all polygraph examinations of sexual offenders shall be recorded in their entirety, with video recording being the preferred medium [24]Verified APA Standards for Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing
Confirms all PCSOT examinations shall be recorded in their entirety with video recording as the preferred medium, and that the ultimate goal is public safety. This requirement protects both the examiner and the examinee by creating an objective record of exactly what was said and done during the post-test phase.

Recording also supports quality control. The APA's Model Policy for Records notes that examiners subject to quality control reviews should provide audio/video recordings along with printed data sufficient to replicate the test data analysis [25]Verified APA Model Policy for Polygraph Records
Confirms examiners should provide audio/video recordings with information sufficient for quality control review. For anyone booking a polygraph test, confirming that the session will be fully recorded is an important preparatory step.

How the Testing Context Shapes the Post-Test

The nature and intensity of the post-test interview varies significantly depending on who commissioned the test.

Private Tests: In private testing — such as infidelity, theft investigation, or personal matter polygraphs — the post-test tends to be more conversational. You retain full autonomy to stop the interview at any time. Results are shared only with the party who commissioned the test. The examiner has no law enforcement authority. If you are considering a private test for a theft matter, learn how in our guide to booking a theft investigation polygraph.

Pre-Employment and Security Clearance Tests: Government agencies use polygraph testing extensively. The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 prohibits most private employers from using lie detector tests for pre-employment screening, but government agencies are exempt from this restriction [17]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (29 USC Ch. 22)
Confirms examinees have the right to terminate the test at any time, right to review all questions, and that statements may constitute additional supporting evidence. The post-test in these contexts may follow stricter protocols. The DOD polygraph standardization process established uniform procedures across federal testing programs.

PCSOT (Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing): The post-test in PCSOT is unique. The APA Model Policy for PCSOT states that the ultimate goal is to increase public safety by adding incremental validity to risk assessment, treatment planning, and risk management decisions [24]Verified APA Standards for Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing
Confirms all PCSOT examinations shall be recorded in their entirety with video recording as the preferred medium, and that the ultimate goal is public safety. The examiner works as part of a multidisciplinary supervision and treatment team, and the post-test is focused on disclosure for therapeutic purposes rather than criminal prosecution. Learn about PCSOT examiner qualifications.

Practical Guidance for Your Post-Test Experience

Be truthful throughout the entire process. The best way to navigate the post-test is to have been completely honest during every phase that preceded it. Polygraph techniques validated in APA meta-analytic research achieve mean accuracy rates of up to 89% for diagnostic tests [5]Verified Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirms 89% accuracy for event-specific diagnostic tests (CI: 83–95%) and 85% for multi-issue screening across 38 studies and 3,723 examinations[6]Verified 2015 Update to the APA 2011 Meta-Analytic Survey of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirmed mean accuracy of.89 for event-specific diagnostic polygraphs (95% CI:.83–.95) and.85 for multi-issue screening (95% CI:.77–.93), so truthfulness is your strongest asset.

Know your rights before you sit down. Understanding that you can terminate the interview, decline to provide written statements, and ask questions about your results gives you confidence and reduces anxiety.

Listen carefully to the examiner's explanation of results. If the examiner indicates deception, ask for clarification about which specific questions triggered concern. A professional examiner should be willing to explain the basis of their findings.

Do not panic if the result is inconclusive. An inconclusive result is not a failure — it means the data was ambiguous. The examiner may recommend retesting. Factors such as medications, anxiety, or medical conditions can all contribute to inconclusive outcomes.

Consider having an attorney present if the stakes are high. For criminal defense or legal matters, having legal counsel present during the post-test discussion can protect your interests.

Confirm recording arrangements in advance. The APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases [2]Verified APA Standards of Practice
Confirms APA requires audio or audio-video recording of all exam phases, minimum 90-minute scheduling, three-year document retention, and transparent result communication. Verify that this standard is being followed before your test begins.

Visit our polygraph research database for peer-reviewed studies on polygraph accuracy and interviewing techniques. If you are interested in the examiner's perspective, explore our guide on becoming a polygraph examiner.