Is your child still
growing right now?

The test measures COL-10 — a breakdown product of Collagen X found in blood serum. Collagen X is produced specifically during active growth plate activity in long bones. The concentration of COL-10 in blood directly correlates with how fast your child's bones are currently growing, giving you a real-time snapshot of growth velocity rather than a prediction based on averages. Think of COL-10 as the exhaust of the engine of growth- the faster a child grows, the more COL-10 is released in the blood and measured by our COL-10 blood test.

No. We work with a virtual physician network that reviews and approves each test order. This allows us to make the test legally available in all 50 states without requiring you to visit a doctor's office first. The entire authorization process happens digitally when you scan the QR code to activate your kit.

The kit includes a small lancet device (like those used for home glucose testing) to obtain a tiny finger-prick blood sample, plus a spare lancet in case the first prick doesn't give enough blood. Most children compare it to a brief pinch. A few drops of blood fill a single circle on the dried blood spot collection card — the same technology used in newborn screening programs. Only one blood spot is needed. The kit also includes a sterile drape to give you a clean work surface, alcohol wipes and bandages, and the whole process takes under 2 minutes.

The COL-10 biomarker is exceptionally stable once blood is dried onto the collection card. Unlike many other biological tests that require cold-chain transport or special handling, dried blood spot samples can be safely and reliably shipped at room temperature through standard mail. This stability is one of the key reasons this test can be offered as an at-home kit. Once dry, the Dried Blood Spot card goes into the included zip-lock bag with its desiccant pack, which keeps the sample dry in transit. The bag then goes into the pre-paid return envelope for shipment to the central CLIA-certified testing facility.

Dried blood spot collection kits are available for pre-sale. We will keep you informed if there are any delays in shipping and an email with tracking will be sent to you as soon as the kits are mailed out.

The COL-10 test is offered for children ages 6–18, covering the primary window of pubescent growth. COL-10 levels naturally decline as growth plates close, so the test is most valuable during the active growing years.

We treat your child's biological data with the same strict confidentiality standards as any clinical laboratory result. Data is never sold to third parties. Testing is performed in a laboratory that operates under CLIA regulations, which include strict requirements for patient data protection. Full privacy policy details are available on our corporate site at northwestdx.com.