qSOFA Score Calculator

qSOFA (quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) is a fast bedside tool that flags adults with suspected infection who are at higher risk of a poor outcome. It came out of the Sepsis-3 definitions in 2016. Unlike the full SOFA score, it needs no lab tests, so you can use it at the point of care.

You add 1 point for each of three criteria that is present: respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute or more, altered mentation (a Glasgow Coma Scale below 15), and systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or less. The total runs from 0 to 3. This calculator derives the points for you from the respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure you enter plus your mentation answer.

A score of 2 or 3 marks a patient as higher risk. In the Sepsis-3 data it was linked to greater in-hospital mortality and longer ICU stays among people with suspected infection. The recommended response is to look harder for organ dysfunction, for example with a full SOFA score, and to monitor more closely. A high score is a prompt to act, not a diagnosis of sepsis by itself.

No. A score of 0 or 1 is reassuring but does not exclude sepsis or serious infection. qSOFA has high specificity but lower sensitivity, so some at-risk patients score low early on. Keep using clinical judgment and reassess the vitals over time if the picture changes.

The full SOFA score grades six organ systems (respiration, coagulation, liver, cardiovascular, central nervous system, and renal) and needs lab values such as bilirubin, platelets, and creatinine. qSOFA is a three-item screen you can run in seconds without labs. qSOFA is meant to identify who deserves a closer look, while SOFA quantifies the degree of organ dysfunction.

No. This calculator is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. qSOFA is a risk-stratification aid, not a diagnostic test for sepsis. Any clinical decision must be made by a qualified clinician who has assessed the patient directly.