Normally, the absence of a post-test interrogation is a good indication that one has passed. However, this is not necessarily the case with regard to FBI "re-tests."

While the FBI has not published information regarding the pass rate on "re-tests," feedback received by AntiPolygraph.org from numerous applicants suggests that the results of "re-tests" are almost always the same as the initial "test." I suspect that the FBI HQ polygraph unit correctly judges that it cannot afford to be seen reversing more than a few initial polygraph results, because to do so would call into question the reliability of their pseudoscientific technique.

As you may be aware, the FBI (specifically, the HQ polygraph unit) has lied in writing about the accuracy of the polygraph to its employees (who are now subject to periodic counterintelligence-scope polygraph screening), falsely claiming that "[c]urrent research continues to show that the polygraph is highly reliable and a valid technique." If the FBI were to reverse more than a handful of pre-employment polygraph results, it would expose the foregoing claim for the blatant falsehood that it is.

It is worth noting that when AntiPolygraph.org first went on-line (September 2000), the FBI very rarely granted "re-tests" to applicants. Now they are frequently granted, if the applicant requests it. But it appears that the purpose of granting re-tests is more to create the illusion of fairness than the reality (and perhaps to put the FBI in a better legal position to defend itself against future lawsuits such as those that are being litigated by Mark Zaid).

But let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. Please let us know the result when you receive it.

Does anyone know the pass rate on a retest ? And to all you experts, what do ya think did I pass or fail?

Yes I had an interview, from the start of my appeal process to the interview was about 3 months and then another month for the retest. The interview was pretty informal, we talked about my drug history or should I say the lack of and occasions that I had been around it such as parties ect.. Also to get this retest besides sending in my appeal letter- I kept calling my applicant coordinator and my HR person at my local office to find out the status of my case. I guess you could say that I bugged them alot.

Did you have an interview before the re-test? If so, how long did you have to wait after the interview to find out if you were indeed given a re-test? Thanks!

Just wanted to share my experience with you guys. I had my first poly a few months ago and it didn't go so well. I was interrogated for 3 hours over drug use and spying. Anyways I went through the process and finally got a retest. The retest was a total 180 from my first experience. There was no interrogation, the only thing I could think was the bad cop good cop routine. We talked for an hour about the areas that I failed; from that 6 questions were formed and I was hooked up to the box. We did three sets of the same questions with a little breather in between each. After that the polygrapher left the room for about 2min -- came back in and said looks like I have enough good information. There were no further?? about anything. At the point I was pretty good and was thinking that things were going good. The examiner told me that they do not score the retest - that they were sent to DC for a review and I should here something in a few weeks. I went out of there feeling like I passed, but you never know with these people. Anyone have any insight out there. Thanks