Back Translation in Life Sciences Content

Quality in translation is always crucial, but in the life sciences sector, even the smallest translation error can lead to life-threatening consequences. Therefore, ensuring that translations are done right the first time is critical. While the usual translation quality assurance measures are thorough, they are often supplemented by an additional step: back translation.

What is Back Translation?

Back translation involves taking a translated text and rendering it back into the original source language. This process is a common practice before the global launch of medicines, medical devices, or associated user manuals. It helps verify that the translated content accurately reflects the intended meaning of the original text, thereby ensuring the highest level of quality and safety.

Back translation is highly recommended, even when in-country review teams are available. The primary objective is simple: to verify the translation's accuracy.

An ideal back translator should specialize in the relevant field, have experience with similar translation work, and, importantly, should not have been involved in the original translation process.

How to Ensure Flawless Execution for Sensitive Documentation

Language is inherently complex, filled with idiomatic expressions, intricate grammatical structures, and cultural nuances. As a result, a back-translated text will never be identical to the original, but it is invaluable for pinpointing errors or identifying potential confusion.

While regular translations require a nuanced approach to convey not just the meaning but also the emotional tone, back translation demands a more literal rendering to ensure the precise meaning of the text is preserved. This helps highlight any minor inaccuracies or misinterpretations that could be overlooked in a regular translation process.

Who Should Perform the Back Translation?

Back translation must be carried out by an expert with native proficiency in the target language. The back translator should have specialized knowledge in the relevant field and be experienced in similar translation projects. However, they must not have been involved in the initial translation. To ensure accuracy and avoid bias, the back translation should be done without referencing the original source or any related materials.

Why Is Back Translation Still Relevant?

Even seemingly simple or harmless statements can have entirely different meanings when translated. For instance, if you take the phrase "I like turtles" and translate it to Mandarin, then translate it back into English, the result might be "I like the tortoise" instead. This minor difference might not matter in casual conversation, but when it comes to longer, more complex texts, such variations could have significant implications. In industries like life sciences, precision is essential, and even slight differences in wording can change the meaning entirely.

Consider the word "intoxicado" in Spanish, which can mean either "intoxicated" or "poisoned" depending on context. It can refer to anything from alcohol or drug intoxication to food poisoning or the ingestion of harmful substances like arsenic or mercury. The correct translation in medical contexts is crucial, as it can mean the difference between a life-saving treatment or a dangerous misdiagnosis.

Similarly, the word “impair” might be translated into Spanish as “afectar,” but when back-translated, it would mean “to affect.” The nuance is important because “to impair” means “to worsen or damage,” while “to affect” simply means “to influence.” Back translation serves as a crucial final check to ensure that such distinctions are captured accurately.

The Ultimate Safety Step for Medical Localization Projects

However, back translation does take time. It adds to the workload of reviewers and can complicate the project timeline. This is why careful preparation is key for any translation project in the life sciences industry. Ample time should be allocated for forward translations, back translations, reviews, and to address any unexpected challenges. With proper planning, products can be released on schedule and meet the strictest quality standards, ensuring both the safety of patients and compliance with industry regulations.

How the Life Sciences Industry Safeguards its Riskiest Projects

In the medical and healthcare fields, translations must be accurate, clear, and culturally appropriate. For high-risk documents—such as those related to drugs, clinical trials, patient safety, and medical devices—it’s strongly recommended to incorporate back translation into the standard quality assurance process.

Back translation ensures the highest level of accuracy and, in turn, safety. Although it requires more time and resources, in high-risk industries like life sciences, it’s always better to take the extra step than to risk errors that could have dire consequences.

For this reason, partnering with an experienced language services provider like Arrow Translation is crucial. With extensive expertise in medical device production, clinical trial management, and pharmaceutical compliance, Arrow Translation has a deep pool of professional translators available for back translation in any language. Speed, quality, and scale are what set us apart. Reach out to experience the difference firsthand.

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