Accurate medical device translation is a vital step in successfully introducing a medical product to a foreign market. As more companies realize the importance of accurate medical translation, the question is no longer why to translate but rather how.
Because medical device translation can be complex and time-consuming, it’s important to begin the process long before the final stages of product development. So what should you look for in a translator?
Medical device translation services need to master the three A’s—accuracy, appropriateness for the audience, and attention to detail. Read on for a look at why these are important.
Effective Medical Device Translation Services Require Accuracy
Accurate medical device translations require a professional translator who understands grammar, spelling, and language nuances and has specific knowledge of the field and how the medical device works. This is imperative, because the text and terminology in the medical device translation must accurately relay a product-related message.
It is vitally important for the translation to be accurate the first time—poorly translated medical device documentation discovered by a company before the product goes to market can delay the product’s release in a given country. But more importantly, it can create substantial liability issues for a company if the device goes to market and is used incorrectly by end users because of inaccurate or unclear translation.
Effective Medical Device Translation Services Must be Appropriate for the Audience
Does the company providing translation services account for translation localization? It’s imperative that technical translation services localize translation to take into account subtleties in the language as it is used in the target region.
The company providing technical translation services must fully understand the target audience. This is especially true when translating medical device documentation for end users such as doctors and patients.
Because of their technical and complex nature, medical device instructions and text can be difficult to understand regardless of language. This means that the company providing technical translation services must accurately translate the source document, while ensuring the translated text accounts for cultural and regional sensitivities.
Effective Medical Device Translation Services Need to Provide Attention to Detail
Planning ahead and hiring a quality technical language services company is the best way to save money and avoid costly errors, resulting in product delays or the need for retranslation. Fixing incorrect technical translations can cost nearly as much (or more) than translating correctly the first time, not to mention the potential loss of profit while the document is being retranslated.
Hiring a qualified technical translation services company at the beginning of the translation process is essential. This will help ensure high-quality, accurate medical device translation services.
Because of the strict regulatory requirements and quality standards medical device manufacturers face, it’s important to entrust medical device translation services to a company that can test, screen, and qualify the medical subject matter experts it will use.
This system ensures that the linguists used for medical device translations are not only qualified, professional translators, but that they also possess considerable translation experience in their field of specialization and are subject matter experts.
