When the UK entered lockdown in 2020, the country needed fast, reliable insight into how the virus was spreading.
The REACT (Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission) study, led by Imperial College London and commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care, became one of the most ambitious public-health research efforts in UK history.
Its goals were to:
Measure infection levels across England.
Understand how COVID-19 was spreading across different age groups and regions.
Monitor trends with randomised home testing.
Provide real-time data to guide government policy.
The study’s success relied on reaching people in their homes quickly and securely. Every participant needed a test kit, personalised instructions, and the confidence to take part — all at a time when normal supply chains and communication channels were under immense pressure.
Imperial partnered with Ipsos to run the study. To meet the logistical challenge of delivering millions of kits and instructions under tight deadlines, Ipsos turned to Formara.
Formara became an essential supplier, keeping our facilities open under full COVID-safe protocols to keep the REACT study moving at speed.
Our role covered secure, high-volume print, fulfilment and distribution:
High-volume, time-critical fulfilment: Each wave of the study required rapid production and dispatch of letters and test-kit components — often within 24 hours.
Secure personalisation: Every letter contained barcode-linked IDs and personalised instructions so participants could register their test correctly. All processes complied with ISO 27001 and GDPR.
Dynamic response: As the study evolved (prevalence testing, antibody testing, variant tracking), we adapted letter content, pack formats and delivery schedules without disruption.
Close collaboration: Our team worked alongside Ipsos and logistics partners to ensure seamless data flow and consistent service even at peak pandemic demand.
“We’ve always said we do more than just print.
This project proved it.”
— Neil Foster, Customer Service Manager, Formara
Over a two-year period (April 2020 – May 2022), Formara delivered critical communication and logistical support for one of the largest home-testing initiatives anywhere in the world.
Key achievements:
4 million+ test kits and letters delivered nationwide.
24-hour average turnaround for each study wave.
100,000+ items mailed during peak waves.
2 years of uninterrupted fulfilment, despite national lockdowns.
The REACT study’s findings directly informed UK government decisions on public-health measures and lockdown strategies.
By ensuring timely, secure and accurate communication, Formara helped to build public confidence and participation at a critical moment in the pandemic.
“Delivering the REACT study was unlike any project we’ve done before.
It showed how trusted print and fulfilment can make a real difference in a national crisis.”
— Formara Team
Although the urgency of the pandemic has passed, the REACT experience shows that print-based outreach remains crucial for healthcare programmes, public-sector research and time-sensitive communication campaigns.
If you’re managing a sensitive, large-scale communication project and need a trusted partner to deliver on every front, we’re here to help.
📞 Call: 01702 613141
📧 Email: print@formara.co.uk
“I’ve worked with Formara for many years and they’ve always been a reliable partner. What really stands out is their personal service. They take the time to understand what we need and they deliver on time, every time.
The quality of their print is excellent and the team is always friendly and easy to work with. For us, it’s the confidence of knowing that when we hand a project over to Formara, it’s in good hands.”
