01649nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001260002400042100003300066700001400099700002400113700001500137700001500152700001500167700001800182700001600200245014300216856007400359520102200433       2020                            d  bFapUNIFESP (SciELO)1 aModesto Tolentino Binhardi F1 aNardi SMT1 aDos Santos Patine F1 aPedro HDSP1 aMontanha J1 ade Santi M1 aUle Belotti N1 aPaschoal VD00aDiagnóstico da rede de atendimento laboratorial de hanseníase no Departamento Regional de Saúde XV, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo  uhttps://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/preprint/view/1019/14553 aObjective. To present the situational diagnosis of the laboratory reference network for leprosy in the region of São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. Methods. An online form was sent to each person responsible for the leprosy program. Results. All 102 municipalities that make up the region sent the requested data, 82.4% (84/102) requested slit skin smear microscopy and of these 68 received training. Of the total, 11.7% send slit skin smear to other laboratories without respecting the reference network. Only 57.8% (59/102) requested a biopsy, of these 47 had a doctor responsible for the collection and 31 didn´t respect the reference network for forwarding the biopsies. Aspects that make it difficult to diagnose leprosy cases in the region have been described as the lack of an adequate room, trained professionals, the absence of material for transportation and the request for printed exams. Conclusion. The laboratory network is fragile and needs to be respected in its initial composition or reorganized.