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Antibodies in adults
Antibody levels remained high in adults across the UK
Modelled percentage of the adult population with levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above 179 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) or 800 ng/ml, by age group, UK countries, 7 December 2020 to 19 February 2023
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In the UK, the proportion of adults with antibodies at or above the 179 ng/ml level remained high in the week beginning 13 February 2023.
In the same week, an estimated 77.7% of adults in England, 79.5% in Wales, 74.5% in Northern Ireland and 79.8% in Scotland had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above the higher level of 800 ng/ml.
Our 179 ng/ml level reflects the percentage of adults likely to have a sufficiently strong antibody response to provide some protection from getting a new COVID-19 infection with the Delta variant. This level is unlikely to provide equivalent protection against the Omicron variant. There is not sufficient evidence available yet to determine the appropriate level for this. The 800 ng/ml level is the highest level at which we can produce a historical series back to December 2020 and enables enhanced monitoring of antibody waning.
An issue with antibody lab results from 10 January to 27 February 2022 primarily impacted 800 ng/ml estimates. This means estimates for 800 ng/ml or higher are not available for this period, and estimates at or above the 179 ng/ml level for February 2022 are subject to change.
Testing negative means that an individual did not have enough antibodies to be detected in the test, not that they do not have any immune protection against the virus. Please read our Antibodies and Immunity blog for more information. See our more information page to read about antibody levels.
Last updated: 29 March 2023
Read more about this in our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, antibody data: UK bulletin
The highest antibody levels were seen among those aged 65 years and over across the UK
Modelled percentage of the population with levels of antibodies across varying levels from less than 179 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) to 6,000 ng/ml and above, 2 May 2022 to 19 February 2023
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Across the UK, the highest antibody levels were seen amongst those aged 65 years and above. Since January 2023, there has been a decrease in the proportion of those estimated to have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 at or above 4,000 ng/ml, across most age groups.
The percentages shown in this chart include antibody levels up to, but below the upper threshold stated. This chart shows the proportion of the adult population, by age and country, estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the following ranges:
less than 179 ng/ml (including those with low or no antibodies against SARS-CoV-2)
from 179 ng/ml to less than 800 ng/ml
from 800 ng/ml to less than 2,000 ng/ml
from 2,000 ng/ml to less than 4,000 ng/ml
from 4,000 ng/ml to less than 6,000 ng/ml
6,000 ng/ml and above
These ranges are shown as a shaded area, with larger areas showing a greater proportion of people who have antibody levels within that range.
Our 179 ng/ml level reflects the percentage of adults likely to have a sufficiently strong antibody response to provide some protection from getting a new COVID-19 infection with the Delta variant. There is not sufficient evidence available yet to determine the appropriate level for the Omicron variant.
Levels at 2,000 ng/ml, 4,000 ng/ml and 6,000 ng/ml were introduced to identify higher concentrations of antibodies in the blood. These higher levels provide a more informative view of population antibody levels and give earlier indication of antibody levels waning.
Last updated: 29 March 2023
Read more about this in our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, antibody data: UK bulletin
Antibodies in children
Antibody levels remained high at the 179 ng/ml level among children aged 12 to 15 years across Great Britain
Modelled percentage of children with levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above 179 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) or 800 ng/ml, by age group, Great Britain, 29 November 2021 to 19 February 2023
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The proportion of children estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above the 179 ng/ml level remained high for those aged 8 to 11 years (60.8%) and those aged 12 to 15 years (83.6%) in the week beginning 13 February 2023.
In the same week, an estimated 20.9% of children aged 8 to 11 years and 51.3% of children aged 12 to 15 years had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above the higher level of 800 ng/ml.
Our 179 ng/ml level reflects the percentage of children likely to have a sufficiently strong antibody response to provide some protection from getting a new COVID-19 infection with the Delta variant. There is not sufficient evidence available yet to determine the appropriate level for the Omicron variant. The 800 ng/ml level is the highest level at which we can produce a historical series back to November 2021.
Last updated: 29 March 2023
Read more about this in our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, antibody data: UK bulletin
Antibodies by characteristics
Antibody levels varied by age group
Estimated percentage of the population with levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above five antibody thresholds, by age group, UK, 8 August to 4 September 2022
Source: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey from Office for National Statistics
Download this chart Antibody levels varied by age group
Image .csv .xlsFrom 8 August to 4 September 2022, antibody levels in the UK were greatest in young adults aged 16 to 24 years and those aged 70 years and over. This is likely the result of different infection rates, numbers of vaccinations received, and time since last vaccination across the different age groups. At higher antibody thresholds, those aged 70 years and over generally had greater levels of antibodies compared with other age groups. Children aged 8 to 15 years had the lowest antibody levels.
In the period from 8 August to 4 September 2022, antibody levels at the 800 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) threshold were lower for:
adults aged 16 to 69 years with a disability, especially for those reporting that their disability impacts them “a lot”, compared with those that are non-disabled in the same age group
adults aged 50 to 69 years in smaller households compared with larger ones.
those aged 16 to 69 years not working compared with those who are employed in the same age group
those aged 16 to 69 years in the most deprived households (using the Index for Multiple deprivation) compared with those of the same age in the least deprived households
These statistics refer to antibody tests for individuals living in private households. The analysis provides estimates in different population groups; however, it does not imply that these differences are causal as it does not control for the range of variables likely to influence positivity levels.
Last updated: 13 March 2023
Read more about this in our COVID-19 Antibody and Swab positivity by population characteristics in the UK: 8 August to 4 September 2022 bulletin
Further information
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey (CIS) estimates antibody positivity based on blood test results taken from a randomly selected subsample of individuals aged 16 years and over in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Antibody data from CIS presented on our tool includes antibodies from both infections and vaccinations. The UK Health Security Agency publishes antibody positivity based on testing samples from healthy adult blood donors aged 17 years and older, supplied by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHS BT) as part of the UKHSA sero-surveillance programme.
The Coronavirus Schools Infection Survey estimates the percentage of staff and pupils with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Staff are tested from blood and pupils from oral-fluid samples using assays that detect antibodies from a previous infection, but not from vaccination.
To find out more about antibody data from different sources visit our more information page.
Related links
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