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Life sciences translation

Life-changing products, understood in every language

Qualified linguists translate your instructions for use (IFUs), labeling, consent forms, and patient materials, and every delivery arrives with signed certification on record.

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30+ years of experience translating for regulated industries ISO 17100:2015 ISO 9001:2015 ISO 13485:2016 ISO 18587:2017
Nurse in blue scrubs reading a tablet during a night shift

A dose, a warning, a step in a protocol. One translated word can reverse an instruction, and labeling errors are a documented cause of device recalls.

Instructions for Use Labeling Informed Consent Clinical Protocols Patient Materials

A translation process your quality team will recognize

Catching errors before release is what your team already does: nothing ships unchecked, because patients and regulators act on your words. A translated document deserves the same scrutiny as its English source.

Argo Translation works the same way, under a quality system certified to ISO 13485:2016, the quality standard for medical devices, and ISO 17100:2015, the standard for translation services. Qualified linguists translate your documents; you choose the level of independent review, and your dedicated project manager keeps every language on schedule for your launch date.

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How it works

Three steps from your English source to launch in every market

Step 1

Tell us the markets

Share the documents, the countries you're entering, and your launch date.

Step 2

Specialists translate and review

Qualified linguists translate, an editor reviews, and terminology stays consistent throughout.

Step 3

You go to market

The versions for all your markets arrive together, ready for review and release.

Testimonials

What our customers are saying

"I'm impressed by the direct and quick communication regarding project work and expectations. The translations were delivered accurate and on time."
Senior Technical Writer Imricor
"Argo Translation's turn around time was always met with time to spare. I felt like they were available quickly and promptly as I needed. Their kind-worded emails made me feel valued as a client."
Senior Graphic Designer Wellnx Life Sciences
"OMG, you all rock! I'm so impressed with the amount of work and timeframe you all put this together. I'm literally doing a happy dance now."
Senior Designer Wisconsin Pharmacal
Anesthesiologist checking vital-sign monitors in an operating room

ZOLL Medical case study

How ZOLL Medical translated a defibrillator manual into 18 languages

ZOLL Medical needed a widely used defibrillator manual translated into 18 languages, fast, to medical device standard. Argo Translation delivered ahead of schedule, and ZOLL tracked the whole project in its online portal: the linguists on each language, the revisions at every step, and the legal certification of accuracy.

Read the Case Study

Two paths

Life sciences with and without a translation partner

Without a partner

Your distributor translates the labeling and takes on a regulatory duty.

A study site improvises consent with whoever is bilingual that day.

The source IFU changes, and the translations quietly fall behind.

Translation starts after the design is locked, and the launch date slips.

A patient call waits for a bilingual employee to become available.

With a partner

Your partner translated the labeling, and helped manage the regulatory duties.

Translated consent documents are ready ahead of schedule.

A change to the source triggers updates across every language.

The language work is planned into the launch timeline from day one.

A live interpreter joins the call by phone or video, on demand.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about life sciences translation

What does ISO 13485:2016 mean for a translation vendor?
ISO 13485:2016 is the quality-management standard for medical devices, and your own quality system requires you to qualify suppliers in proportion to their impact on the finished product. A translation vendor that conforms to the same standard closes that loop with a certificate instead of a questionnaire and an on-site audit.
Who is responsible when a distributor translates our labeling?
The distributor becomes a regulated party. Under EU regulations, a distributor or importer that translates your information has to run a quality-management system with procedures ensuring the translation is accurate and up to date, certified by a notified body and filed before the device goes to market. Supplying the translated labeling yourself keeps that obligation from ever triggering, and keeps the wording under your own revision control.
What does life sciences translation cost?
Document translation is quoted per word, by language and subject matter. You pay per minute for interpretation, by format, phone or video, with a recurring monthly minimum, no setup fee, and no contract. Translation memory means the parts of a revised document that didn't change don't come back at full price. The fastest way to see real numbers is to send a real document set.
Can our study sites handle consent translation themselves?
Sites manage the consent conversation, but the documents are better handled upstream. FDA guidance says the IRB may approve procedures ensuring translations are prepared by a qualified individual or entity, and many institutional IRBs keep pre-approved translated short forms as a contingency. We prepare consent documents and translated short forms ahead of enrollment, and an interpreter is available by phone or video for the conversation itself.

Get a quote on your next life sciences project

Tell us what you need translated, the languages involved, and your submission or launch dates. You'll get a quote and a delivery plan your quality team can file.

Request a Quote Read the ZOLL Medical Case Study