A slowdown of hepatitis C diagnosis in high-prevalence groups and with decentralized diagnostic strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis by hindering the path to elimination. Albeit, in an uneven manner, depending on the risk group and diagnostic strategy.

Methods: the requests of antibodies/RNA by venipuncture at hospitals and Primary Care centers (centralized) and via venipuncture or dried blood spot tests at prison and drug treatment centers referred for central processing (integrated decentralized) were recorded for one year, before and after the onset of the COVID-19 health crisis.