Brechas de acceso al diagnóstico de laboratorio clínico en entornos rurales: Revisión bibliográfica.

Barriers to access to clinical laboratory diagnostics limit the problem-solving capacity of primary health care, particularly among rural and vulnerable populations. This study aimed to characterize barriers to diagnostic access reported in the scientific literature and their impact on primary health care. A narrative literature review with an analytical approach was conducted using Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SciELO. Of 51 records initially identified, 39 studies were included and their information was subjected to thematic analysis. A total of 90 barriers were identified and grouped into access and timeliness (43.3%), diagnostic capacity (22.2%), infrastructure (21.1%), and administrative management (13.3%). These limitations were associated with delays in diagnosis and treatment, loss to follow-up, and persistent inequalities, particularly among rural and vulnerable populations. Reported strategies mainly focused on decentralizing services, expanding point-of-care testing, strengthening infrastructure, and training health personnel. Reducing these barriers requires comprehensive, context-sensitive interventions that strengthen diagnostic capacity at the primary care level and ensure continuity between diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.