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 Northern Ireland for the week beginning 13 February 2023.

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).

• In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 13 February 2023, the percentage of people aged 16 and over, estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above 800 ng/ml was 74.5% (95% credible interval: 71.3% to 77.6%).
• In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 13 February 2023, the percentage of the adult population estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above the level of 179 ng/ml remained high across all age groups.
• Since January 2023, across most age groups and most UK countries there has been a decrease in the proportion of those estimated to have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in the 4,000 ng/ml and above range. The highest antibody levels were seen among those aged 65 years and above across the UK.

Estimates of antibody positivity at 2000 ng/ml, 4000 ng/ml and 6000 ng/ml are presented in the bulletin.

NOTICE: This is the final Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey antibody data release. As the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works to confirm its approach to surveillance, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) plans to work with existing participants to continue gathering valuable insight into the experiences of COVID-19, long COVID and other respiratory infections, details of which will be announced in due course.

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.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/methodologies/covid19infectionsurveypilotmethodsandfurtherinformation#covid-19-infection-survey
 

6. This publication is available online.

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

8. For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.

9. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt.

10. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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