ePT Translation Guide¶
This guide provides standards and terminology for translating the ePT (e-Proficiency Testing) platform. It ensures consistency across all language translations with proper context for medical/laboratory terminology.
Project Context¶
ePT is a medical proficiency testing platform for laboratory quality assurance. It enables organizations to:
- Create and manage PT (Proficiency Testing) shipments
- Enroll participant laboratories and track their responses
- Evaluate results against reference data
- Generate reports for analysis and certification
Critical Context¶
"PT" = Proficiency Testing (laboratory quality assurance testing)
PT does NOT mean: - Physical Therapy - Physiotherapy - Patient - Part-Time
Always translate PT in the context of laboratory quality control and testing proficiency.
Core Terminology¶
Platform Concepts¶
| English Term | Definition | Translation Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Proficiency Testing (PT) | A program where laboratories test unknown samples to assess their testing accuracy | Core concept - never confuse with medical therapy |
| PT Program | An organized testing program managed through the platform | The main organizational unit |
| PT Manager | Administrator role managing PT programs | A user role, not a software feature |
| Scheme | A category of tests (e.g., HIV, TB, COVID-19) | Use "program" or "testing program" sense, not "diagram" |
| Shipment | A batch of samples sent to participating laboratories | Physical delivery of test materials |
| Round | A testing cycle within a scheme | Time-based testing period |
| Panel | A set of samples within a shipment | Collection of test specimens |
| Participant | An enrolled laboratory taking part in PT | Not an individual person, but a lab/facility |
Test Schemes (Abbreviations)¶
Keep abbreviations in English, but translate the full names:
| Abbreviation | Full Name | Context |
|---|---|---|
| DTS | Dried Tube Specimen | HIV Serology rapid testing |
| VL | Viral Load | HIV quantitative testing |
| EID | Early Infant Diagnosis | PCR-based infant HIV testing |
| TB | Tuberculosis | Molecular and microscopy testing |
| Recency | HIV Recency Testing | Recent infection detection |
| COVID-19 | Coronavirus Disease 2019 | Keep as "COVID-19" in all languages |
| DBS | Dried Blood Spot | EIA and Western Blot testing |
Laboratory & Testing Terms¶
| English | Definition |
|---|---|
| Laboratory | Facility performing the tests |
| Sample / Specimen | Material being tested |
| Result | Test outcome |
| Reference Result | The correct/expected result |
| Reported Result | What the participant laboratory submitted |
| Concordance | Agreement between reported and reference results |
| Discordance | Disagreement between reported and reference results |
| Score | Numerical evaluation of performance |
| Evaluation | Assessment of laboratory performance |
| Algorithm | Testing procedure/workflow |
| Assay | A test or testing procedure |
| Reagent | Chemical substance used in testing |
User Interface Terms¶
| English | Usage Context |
|---|---|
| Download | Retrieving files from server |
| Upload | Sending files to server |
| Submit | Sending form data / responses |
| Save | Storing changes |
| Cancel | Aborting an action |
| Delete | Removing permanently |
| Edit | Modifying existing data |
| View | Displaying without editing |
| Report | Generated document with results |
| Dashboard | Overview/summary page |
| Settings | Configuration options |
| Establishment | Institution/facility (use formal term) |
User Roles¶
| English | Context |
|---|---|
| Administrator | Full system access |
| Admin | Abbreviated form of Administrator |
| Data Manager | Manages participant data |
| Participant | Laboratory user submitting results |
| User | Generic system user |
Status Terms¶
| English | Context |
|---|---|
| Pending | Waiting for action |
| In Progress | Currently being processed |
| Completed | Finished successfully |
| Active | Currently enabled |
| Inactive | Currently disabled |
| Approved | Accepted/validated |
| Rejected | Declined/invalid |
| Finalized | Locked and complete |
| Shipped | Samples sent to participants |
| Evaluated | Results have been assessed |
Translation Rules¶
1. Preserve Technical Elements¶
Never translate or modify:
- Variable placeholders: %s, %d, %1$s, {0}, {{name}}
- HTML tags: <strong>, <br>, <a href="...">
- Email addresses and URLs
- Code/technical identifiers
Example:
Source: "Hello %s, you have %d messages"
Translation: "[Greeting] %s, [you have] %d [messages]"
2. Maintain Placeholder Order¶
Some languages require different word order. Use positional placeholders when reordering:
Source: "%s uploaded %d files"
Translation (if reordering needed): "%2$d [files uploaded by] %1$s"
3. Context Over Literal Translation¶
Translate meaning, not words: - "No. of Responses" = "Number of Responses" = [Count of responses submitted] - "PT Manager" = [Person who manages proficiency testing programs]
4. Consistency¶
Use the same translation for the same term throughout: - Pick ONE translation for "Email" and use it everywhere - Pick ONE translation for "Scheme" and use it everywhere - Document your choices in language-specific notes
5. Formality¶
Use formal register throughout the application: - Use formal "you" forms where applicable (vous, Sie, usted, etc.) - Use professional/technical language - Avoid slang or colloquialisms
6. Completeness¶
- Never leave
msgstrempty for strings that need translation - Translate the complete meaning, including implied articles/prepositions
- Match the tone and intent of the original
Common Mistakes¶
1. Wrong Context for "PT"¶
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy | Proficiency Testing |
| Physiotherapy | Proficiency Testing |
| Patient | (PT never means Patient here) |
2. Wrong Context for "Scheme"¶
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| Diagram/Blueprint | Testing Program/Category |
| Plan/Plot | Testing Program/Category |
3. Wrong Context for "Panel"¶
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
| UI Panel/Section | Set of test samples |
| Control Panel | Set of test samples |
4. Placeholder Errors¶
| Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
Removing %s |
Keep %s exactly |
Translating %d |
Keep %d exactly |
Changing {name} to {nom} |
Keep {name} exactly |
Quality Checklist¶
Before submitting translations:
- [ ] All strings have translations (no empty
msgstr) - [ ] Placeholders preserved exactly (
%s,%d,{0}, etc.) - [ ] HTML tags preserved exactly
- [ ] "PT" translated as Proficiency Testing, not therapy
- [ ] "Scheme" translated as testing program, not diagram
- [ ] Terminology consistent throughout the file
- [ ] Formal register used (formal "you")
- [ ] No trailing or leading spaces in translations
- [ ] Proper punctuation and capitalization for target language
- [ ] Accents and special characters correct for target language
File Format¶
PO File Structure¶
Translation files use GNU gettext format (.po):
# Comment providing context
#: path/to/source/file.php:123
msgid "Original English text"
msgstr "Translated text"
msgid: Source text (DO NOT MODIFY)msgstr: Your translation#:Reference to source file location#Comments provide context
Plural Forms¶
Handle plurals according to target language rules:
msgid "1 result"
msgid_plural "%d results"
msgstr[0] "singular form"
msgstr[1] "plural form"
Note: Some languages have more than 2 plural forms (e.g., Russian, Arabic).
Adding a New Language¶
- Copy
application/languages/en_US/en_US.poas template - Create new directory:
application/languages/{locale}/{locale}.po - Update the PO file header with language metadata
- Translate all
msgstrentries - Run quality checks using this guide
- Test in the application
Language-Specific Notes¶
French (fr_FR)¶
- Use formal "vous" throughout
- Include articles: "Générer les rapports" not "Générer rapports"
- Use proper accents: É, è, ê, ç, à
- "Email" → "Courriel" or "E-mail" (pick one)
Spanish (es_ES)¶
- Use formal "usted" throughout
- "Email" → "Correo electrónico"
Portuguese (pt_BR / pt_PT)¶
- Distinguish Brazilian vs European Portuguese
- Use formal register
(Add notes for other languages as needed)
Contact¶
For translation questions or to report issues:
GitHub: deforay/ept