Tutorial: Explaining a Complex Lab Panel to a Patient Using AI

One of the most time-consuming communication tasks in endocrinology is explaining a complex set of results to a patient — especially when those results involve multiple hormones, some in normal range and some not, and the patient has already seen the numbers in their patient portal before you have had a chance to speak with them.

This tutorial walks you through using AI to draft a clear, personalised explanation document. We will use a fictional scenario: a patient with suspected PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) who has received a set of results including LH (luteinising hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), testosterone, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin — and she has already seen the numbers online and is worried.

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The Scenario

"Ms B" is a 28-year-old woman who came to you with irregular cycles, excess hair growth, and difficulty managing her weight. You ordered a hormone panel and a fasting metabolic screen. Results have come back. She has messaged the clinic asking what her results mean because she has seen them in her portal app.

You want to send her a written explanation before her results appointment in one week. The explanation should: describe what was measured and why, explain which results are normal and which are not (in general terms, not specific numbers), explain what the pattern suggests, and reassure her that this is a manageable condition.

Reminder: Do not paste real patient names, dates of birth, or identifying details into any AI tool. Use the fictional "Ms B" as a stand-in, or describe the patient in general terms only.

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Step 1: Note What You Want to Cover

Before writing any prompt, note down what you want the explanation to include:

• Why these tests were done (looking for a hormonal pattern that explains her symptoms)
• What LH, FSH, and testosterone measure — in plain English
• What fasting glucose and insulin measure — and why they matter in this context
• Which results were within normal range, and which were not (without specific numbers)
• What the pattern overall suggests (possible PCOS)
• What this does and does not mean for her health
• That a full discussion will happen at the appointment
• That this is a manageable condition and she is not alone in having it

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Step 2: Write Your Prompt

Open your AI tool. Type the following:

"Write a patient-friendly explanation of a set of hormone and metabolic blood test results for a 28-year-old woman with irregular cycles and excess hair growth who is being investigated for possible PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

The tests included: LH and FSH (hormones involved in the menstrual cycle), testosterone, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin.

Cover:

1. Why each test was done — in plain language
2. What a normal pattern looks like for each test
3. A general statement that some of her results show a pattern that is consistent with PCOS (do not give specific numbers or exact results)
4. What PCOS is, briefly, in plain language
5. A reassurance that PCOS is common, manageable, and that her full results will be discussed at her appointment

Warm, reassuring tone. Short paragraphs. Plain English. Around 350 words. Do not include specific result values, drug names, or doses."

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Step 3: Read the AI's Draft

The AI will produce something like this:

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Dear Ms B,

Thank you for getting in touch. I know it can be worrying to see results in your portal before you have had a chance to talk them through. I wanted to write to you with a bit of context before your appointment.

When you came to see me, I wanted to understand whether there might be a hormonal pattern behind your symptoms — the irregular periods, the extra hair growth, and the difficulty managing your weight. To do that, I requested a set of blood tests.

Here is what each test measures, in plain terms:

LH and FSH are two hormones produced in the brain that help control your menstrual cycle. In a typical cycle, these two hormones rise and fall in a particular pattern. In some conditions, their balance is different from usual.

Testosterone is a hormone that everyone has — in women, it is normally present in small amounts. Higher-than-usual levels can contribute to symptoms like excess hair growth.

Fasting glucose measures the level of sugar in your blood after you have not eaten. Fasting insulin measures how hard your body is working to manage that sugar. These two together tell us about how well your body processes carbohydrates — something that is closely linked to some hormonal conditions.

Having looked at your results, some of them show a pattern that is consistent with a condition called PCOS — polycystic ovary syndrome. PCOS is one of the most common hormonal conditions in women of your age. It affects the balance of hormones and can influence your cycle, hair growth, and metabolism.

The important thing to know is: PCOS is manageable. Many women with PCOS live completely normal lives. There are approaches to treatment — lifestyle factors, in particular — that can make a real difference.

I want to make sure we go through everything carefully together. Your appointment is in one week, and we will have a full conversation about what your results mean for you specifically and what the next steps look like.

Kind regards, [Your name]

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This is a good draft. Now work through it.

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Step 4: Check the Draft Against Your Clinical Thinking

Read it carefully. A few things to think about:

Is the description of each test accurate enough? The LH/FSH explanation is simplified but not wrong. The testosterone explanation is accurate. The glucose/insulin explanation is reasonable and does not overstate insulin resistance. You might want to adjust the glucose/insulin section if you feel it implies a more definitive finding than the results warrant.

Does the tone match what you want to say? This is warm and reassuring without being dismissive. If your concern is that Ms B might be minimising her anxiety, you could ask the AI to add a line explicitly acknowledging her worry.

Is the PCOS description accurate for your purposes? The AI says "most common hormonal conditions in women of your age" — this is broadly accurate. The statement that "many women with PCOS live completely normal lives" is also reasonable, though you may want to soften it to "most women with PCOS manage their condition well" depending on the clinical picture.

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Step 5: Refine With Follow-Up Instructions

Ask the AI to adjust specific sections. For example:

"In the paragraph about what the results show, can you add one sentence that acknowledges this might have been a lot to take in, and that it is completely normal to feel anxious about new information?"

Or:

"Can you shorten the section about what each test measures? Summarise all three in one short paragraph instead of three separate ones."

Type these adjustments one at a time and review each version.

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Step 6: Add the Specific Context You Cannot Include in the Prompt

Once you are happy with the structure, copy the draft into your clinical correspondence system. Then add:

• The patient's actual name
• The specific appointment date and time
• Your contact details and clinic name
• Any additional context specific to her situation that you decided not to include in the AI prompt for privacy reasons

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Step 7: Ask a Colleague to Read It (Optional but Worthwhile the First Time)

The first time you use an AI draft for a sensitive results-explanation letter, consider asking a colleague to read it. A second pair of eyes — especially for a communication that involves potentially anxiety-provoking results — is a good safeguard.

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Step 8: Send and Document

Send the letter through your usual clinical channel. Document in her record that written information was provided in advance of the results appointment. At the appointment itself, use the letter as a starting point: "Did you get a chance to read the letter I sent? What questions does it raise for you?"

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What This Tutorial Demonstrates

AI is particularly useful when you need to translate clinical information into patient-friendly language — consistently, clearly, and quickly. The same process works for:

• Explaining an adrenal incidentaloma finding before an urgent review
• Summarising what a dynamic pituitary test will involve
• Preparing a "what your HbA1c result means" letter for newly diagnosed patients

The pattern is always the same: you decide what to cover, you write a clear prompt, you review the output as a clinician, you refine it, and then you personalise and send it as your own clinical document.

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Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.