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 11 April 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 report, 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 used; a 179 ng/ml level, which is consistent with previous publications, and a newly introduced 800 ng/ml level.

• In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 11 April 2022, it is estimated that 99.0% of the adult population (95% credible interval: 98.2% to 99.4%) would have tested positive on a blood test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above 179 ng/ml, and 94.4% of adults at or above 800 ng/ml (95% credible interval: 91.9% to 96.2%).
• In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 11 April 2022, the percentage of adults who would have tested positive for antibodies at or above levels of 179 ng/ml and 800 ng/ml remained high across all age groups.
• Across the UK, the percentage of children who are estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 above the 179 ng/ml threshold ranged from 96.1% to 97.2% for those aged 12 to 15 years and from 85.3% to 90.3% for those aged 8 to 11 years, in the week beginning 11 April 2022.

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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