About This Report
This field report describes the practical realities of deploying P300 EEG lie detection equipment in non-laboratory environments. All client details, case specifics and identifying information have been removed or anonymised. The operational observations — venue conditions, signal quality, equipment performance and logistical challenges — are reported accurately.
We publish field reports because we believe transparency about how the technology performs in the real world is more valuable than laboratory claims alone. If the signal was noisy, we say so. If we made mistakes, we say that too.
Why Field Deployment Matters — And Why Most Providers Avoid Talking About It
There is a gap between how P300 EEG is presented in marketing material and how it is actually delivered. The marketing shows clean laboratories, pristine equipment and controlled conditions. The reality, for a UK-wide service, involves motorway services at 5am, hotel conference rooms with buzzing air conditioning units, and clients who are stressed, exhausted and sometimes hostile.
This gap matters because the validity of a P300 EEG result depends not just on the science — which is sound — but on the conditions under which the test was conducted. A P300 response measured in a noisy room with poor electrode contact and an anxious, fidgeting subject is not the same quality of evidence as one measured in controlled conditions with a calm, properly prepared individual.
We do not claim that field-deployed P300 EEG is identical to laboratory P300 EEG. We claim that, with the right preparation, venue selection and protocols, field deployment consistently achieves signal quality that meets our clinical thresholds. This report shows what that looks like in practice — including the parts that did not go smoothly.
The honest truth is that most P300 providers worldwide operate exclusively from fixed laboratory locations. We travel because our clients need us to — the subject in a corporate investigation cannot always come to us, the family court participant in Swansea should not have to travel to Manchester, and the business losing stock in Glasgow needs the investigation to happen on their premises. UK-wide field deployment is a core part of what we offer. Here is what it involves.
Deployment 1 — Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland
The brief
A Glasgow-based logistics company had identified significant stock discrepancies over a four-month period. Internal CCTV and audit evidence had narrowed the suspects to five warehouse staff, but could not resolve which individual or individuals were responsible. The company's HR director contacted us through their employment solicitor. The brief was to test all five subjects against a stimulus set designed around the specific details of the suspected theft method.
Venue and setup
Testing was conducted in a meeting room at a business hotel near Glasgow city centre — chosen because it was neutral ground away from the workplace, which the solicitor felt was important for the fairness of the process. The room was on the third floor, away from the lobby and restaurant. We arrived at 06:30 to prepare the environment before the first subject at 09:00.
The room was adequate but not ideal. The air conditioning unit produced a low-frequency hum that was within acceptable parameters but would have been flagged in a laboratory setting. We positioned the testing station at the far end of the room, away from the unit, and used our portable sound-dampening screens to reduce ambient noise at the subject's seated position. The fluorescent overhead lighting had a faint flicker at 50Hz — we switched it off and used our battery-powered LED panel instead, which eliminated the issue entirely.
Signal quality
Electrode impedance checks across all eight channels were within target on the first four subjects. Subject five required a second gel application on the Pz and P3 electrodes — likely due to thicker hair and a slightly oily scalp. After the second application, impedance dropped to within range and the session proceeded normally. Overall artefact rejection rates across the five sessions averaged 8.2% — well within our 15% maximum threshold for valid results.
Client and subject experience
Four of the five subjects were cooperative and calm throughout the process. Subject three was notably anxious — hand tremor, elevated baseline EMG noise, and verbal expressions of nervousness before the session. We spent an additional fifteen minutes on the familiarisation phase, explaining the process slowly and running a practice sequence. This is standard protocol for anxious subjects and it worked — by the time the actual test began, the EMG noise had dropped to acceptable levels and the subject's movement artefacts were minimal.
The HR director observed from an adjacent room via a video link we set up at the solicitor's request. No observers were present in the testing room during any session — this is a non-negotiable part of our protocol, as the presence of authority figures can affect the subject's physiological state and compromise data quality.
Outcome
All five tests produced valid, reportable results. The full reports — including raw EEG data, channel-level amplitude measurements, artefact rejection records and statistical probability scores — were delivered to the instructing solicitor within 72 hours. We are not at liberty to disclose the findings, but the reports were subsequently used in the company's internal disciplinary proceedings.
Deployment 2 — Swansea
Swansea, Wales
The brief
A private client in Swansea contacted us directly regarding a personal matter involving disputed allegations within a family context. The details are confidential, but the client needed a P300 EEG test to support their position in ongoing civil proceedings. Their solicitor had specifically requested that the testing be conducted by a provider using P300 EEG rather than polygraph, citing the stronger scientific foundations for evidentiary use. The test needed to take place in or near Swansea — the client had caring responsibilities that prevented travel.
Venue and setup
This deployment presented different challenges from Glasgow. The client's solicitor arranged a private meeting room at their offices in Swansea city centre. The room was smaller than we would normally select — approximately 3m × 4m — but it was quiet, well-insulated and had no fluorescent lighting. The solicitor had also, helpfully, arranged for the adjacent offices to remain unoccupied during the testing window.
The main challenge was electrical interference. The building's wiring was older, and our initial impedance check showed 50Hz mains noise on three channels — a common issue in older buildings with unshielded wiring. We resolved this by switching from the wall socket to our battery pack for all equipment, which eliminated the mains interference entirely. This is why we carry a full UPS battery system on every deployment — it is not optional equipment for field work.
Signal quality
After the switch to battery power, signal quality was excellent — some of the cleanest data we have recorded outside a laboratory setting. The quiet, small room actually worked in our favour: minimal ambient noise, no HVAC hum, no foot traffic outside. The subject was calm and cooperative throughout. Artefact rejection rate was 4.1% — lower than our laboratory average of approximately 6%.
The drive
We mention this because it is part of the reality. Macclesfield to Swansea is approximately 200 miles and took just over four hours each way, including a fuel stop on the M5. We departed at 04:45 to arrive at 09:00 with setup time. The return journey, after pack-down and a debrief with the client's solicitor, put us back home at approximately 21:00. A 16-hour day for a single test. This is not unusual for our more remote deployments and it is factored into our operational planning — we do not schedule early-morning testing the following day after a long-distance deployment, because examiner fatigue is a data quality risk we take seriously.
Outcome
The test produced a valid result with high confidence. The full report was delivered to the client's solicitor within 48 hours. The solicitor subsequently requested an expert witness statement, which was provided. We understand the report has been submitted as part of the ongoing proceedings.
Lessons Learned — What These Deployments Reinforced
Every field deployment teaches us something. Some lessons are new; most are reinforcements of things we already knew but that bear repeating. These are the operational takeaways from Glasgow and Swansea.
Battery power is non-negotiable
The Swansea deployment confirmed again that mains power in older UK buildings introduces 50Hz noise that can compromise EEG signal quality. Our full UPS battery system eliminates this entirely. We now run on battery power by default for every field deployment, regardless of the apparent quality of the venue's electrical installation.
Arrive early, test the room
In Glasgow, the fluorescent lighting flicker would not have been noticeable to the naked eye. Our pre-session environmental check caught it within five minutes. Arriving 60 to 90 minutes before the first subject is not precaution — it is essential protocol. Every venue produces surprises.
Anxious subjects need time
Subject three in Glasgow needed an extended familiarisation phase. Rushing an anxious subject into the test produces noisy data and unreliable results. We build buffer time into every multi-subject schedule specifically for this. Fifteen minutes of patient explanation saved what could have been an invalid session.
No observers in the room
The Glasgow solicitor initially requested an observer be present. We explained why this is not permitted — the subject's physiological state is measurably affected by the presence of authority figures. The video link to an adjacent room was the compromise. This boundary is non-negotiable and we will decline a test rather than compromise on it.
Small, quiet rooms can outperform large ones
The Swansea solicitor's office — smaller than our preferred specification — produced the cleanest signal data of any deployment this quarter. The absence of HVAC systems, the sound insulation from adjacent rooms, and the general quietness of a small law office created conditions that rivalled our own facilities.
Examiner fatigue is a real risk
A 16-hour day including 8 hours of driving is physically and cognitively demanding. We do not schedule complex analytical work or additional testing sessions within 12 hours of a long-distance deployment return. The quality of our analysis and reporting depends on the examiner being rested and focused. This is a deliberate operational constraint.
What We Carry — The Field Deployment Kit
One of the questions we get most frequently from potential clients and solicitors is what the equipment actually involves. People imagine bulky medical apparatus and a van full of hardware. The reality is more compact than most expect.
- Medical-grade 8-channel EEG amplifier — portable unit weighing under 500g, designed for mobile clinical use
- EEG electrode cap with pre-positioned Ag/AgCl electrodes — available in three sizes to ensure proper fit across different head sizes
- Conductive gel, abrasive prep gel and skin preparation supplies — enough for 8 subjects per deployment
- Stimulus presentation laptop — pre-loaded with the case-specific stimulus sets, calibrated display, with a backup device in case of hardware failure
- Battery-powered LED lighting panel — eliminates dependency on venue lighting and avoids fluorescent flicker interference
- Portable UPS battery system — powers all equipment independently of mains supply for up to 10 hours of continuous use
- Portable sound-dampening screens — foldable acoustic panels that reduce ambient noise at the testing station
- Calibration equipment — impedance meter, signal generator and reference electrodes for pre-session quality checks
- Consent forms, information sheets and chain-of-custody documentation — printed and digital copies
- Secure data storage — encrypted drives for immediate data backup at the end of each session
The entire kit fits into two flight cases and a backpack. Setup takes approximately 30 minutes. Pack-down takes 20. The equipment is robust enough for regular transport — we have used the same primary amplifier for over eighteen months of continuous field deployment without failure.
Where We Go — UK-Wide Field Coverage
Glasgow and Swansea are two examples, but we deploy across the entire United Kingdom. Our field deployments since the start of 2025 have included testing in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, Newcastle, Sheffield, Nottingham, Southampton and several smaller towns where clients needed us to come to them.
We go where the client needs us. That is not a marketing slogan — it is an operational commitment. If you are in a location where you need a P300 EEG test conducted and you cannot travel to us, contact us. We will tell you whether it is logistically feasible and what the timeline looks like. In most cases, we can deploy within 48 to 72 hours of the initial briefing.
Venue requirements
We need surprisingly little from a venue. The key requirements are a private room (minimum approximately 3m × 3m), a table and comfortable chair for the subject, no direct sources of strong electrical interference (server rooms, industrial equipment), and the ability to control who enters the room during the testing session. Hotel meeting rooms, solicitor offices, corporate boardrooms, private residences and medical consulting rooms have all worked well. We conduct an advance venue assessment — either in person or via video call and photographs — before confirming any field deployment.
What does not work
- Open-plan offices — too much ambient noise and visual distraction for the subject
- Rooms directly above or below heavy machinery or industrial plant
- Venues with no control over foot traffic past the testing room
- Rooms with large amounts of unshielded electrical cabling in the walls or ceiling
- Outdoor or semi-outdoor locations — wind, temperature variation and ambient noise make EEG measurement impractical
Need a P300 EEG Test at Your Location?
We deploy UK-wide for private, corporate and legal investigations. Tell us where you are and what you need — we will confirm feasibility, timeline and arrange the logistics. All enquiries are confidential.