BACK TRANSLATION

Translation of medical documents for clinical trials requires very high accuracy. Translation errors can change the meaning of important content in the clinical trial documents. Some IRBs and Helsinki Committees require the sponsor to file foreign language documents together with a back translation. Back translation is a very effective, very stringent quality process.

In a normal translation process, the translator translates the document; an editor then reviews the translation and makes corrections. A more robust process involves back translation, whereby a second translator translates the foreign language clinical trial document back to the original language. The original and back-translated versions are compared in order to validate the accuracy of the translation and to avoid mistranslations, missing text and other translation errors.

GTS has proven experience in providing certified back translation of clinical protocols, informed consent forms and other medical documents to leading pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies and CROs. Click here to read an article with helpful information regarding back translation.