Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection Survey – Antibody Data For Northern Ireland

The Department of Health today published a report on antibody data from the COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS). The findings set out in this report relate to estimates for NI for the week beginning 18 July 2022.

This report is part of the series of Northern Ireland publications from the COVID-19 Infection Survey. Further information can be found on the Department of Health website.

Key Findings

In this bulletin, we report percentages of the population that are estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the specific virus that causes coronavirus (COVID-19). Two levels are reported; a 179 ng/ml level, which is consistent with previous publications, and an 800 ng/ml level.

• In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 18 July 2022, the percentage of people estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 94.7% of adults at or above 179 ng/ml (95% credible interval: 91.8% to 96.6%), and 75.3% of adults at or above 800 ng/ml (95% credible interval: 69.8% to 80.2%).
• In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 18 July 2022, the percentage of the adult population estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above the level of 179 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) remained high across all age groups.

Please note that the results in this bulletin are based on data collected from study worker home visits up until 24 July 2022. We have now moved to a more flexible remote data collection method. Participants can complete the survey online or by telephone, and swab and blood samples are returned through the post (or by courier for some participants). As a result of this change, there will be a pause to the publication of our antibodies bulletin on Wednesday 7 September 2022. This is to enable final checks to be carried out before the results from this new method are released for the first time in our antibodies bulletin on Wednesday 21 September 2022. For more information about this change, please see the recent ONS blog post. 

Notes to editors: 

1. The Department of Health has been working along with the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Office for National Statistics (and its various survey partners) to extend the COVID-19 Infection Survey to Northern Ireland. Fieldwork in Northern Ireland began on 27 July 2020.
2. All results are provisional and subject to revision. Due to the relatively small number of people who tested positive for antibodies within our sample, credible intervals are wide and therefore results should be interpreted with caution.
3. These statistics refer to the presence of antibodies to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) within the community population, by which we mean private residential households. These figures exclude those in hospitals, care homes and/or other institutional settings.
4. This report is part of the series of Northern Ireland publications from the COVID-19 Infection Survey. Positivity estimates are published on a weekly basis and antibody data fortnightly. Further information can be found on the Department of Health website.
5. Further information about quality and methodology associated with the survey can be found on the ONS website.
6. This publication is available online at:
7. Additional information is available from:
   Information Analysis Directorate
   Department of Health
   Annex 2, Castle Buildings
   Stormont
   Belfast BT4 3SQ
   Telephone:    028 9052 2340         E-mail: statistics@health-ni.gov.uk

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