About the qSOFA Score Calculator
The quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) is a three-item bedside score introduced with the Sepsis-3 consensus definitions in 2016. One point each is given for a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute or more, altered mentation (any Glasgow Coma Scale below 15), and a systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or less. A score of 2 or 3 is considered positive.
qSOFA was derived by Seymour and colleagues from 148,907 encounters with suspected infection (out of 1.3 million electronic health record encounters at 12 Pennsylvania hospitals) and confirmed in 706,399 encounters from 165 other hospitals. Outside the ICU — emergency department and ward patients — a qSOFA of 2 or more was associated with a 3- to 14-fold higher in-hospital mortality than a score below 2 across baseline-risk deciles. It needs no laboratory tests, so it can be repeated quickly at the bedside.
qSOFA is a prompt to look for organ dysfunction, escalate monitoring and consider sepsis — it is not a diagnostic test for sepsis. A negative qSOFA does not rule sepsis out, and the 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guideline recommends against using qSOFA alone as a screening tool.
With the default inputs, the qsofa score is 0 / 3. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the qsofa score calculator
- 1Use this for an adult with known or suspected infection outside the ICU.
- 2Enter the current respiratory rate.
- 3Enter the systolic blood pressure.
- 4Switch on altered mentation if GCS is below 15 or the patient is newly confused.
- 5A score of 2 or more is positive: look for organ dysfunction and escalate care.
Formula and method
Each criterion contributes one point when present. The cut-offs were chosen in the Sepsis-3 derivation work because, among the candidate bedside variables, these three best predicted in-hospital death or an ICU stay of three days or more in adults with suspected infection outside intensive care.
The score is designed for adults with known or suspected infection. It was not validated in children, in pregnancy, or for patients already in the ICU, where the full SOFA score performs better.
- RR
- Respiratory rate, breaths per minute
- SBP
- Systolic blood pressure, mmHg
- GCS
- Glasgow Coma Scale score (3–15)
Worked examples
Normal observations
A respiratory rate of 18, systolic 118 mmHg and normal mentation meet none of the three criteria, so qSOFA is 0.
Pneumonia with tachypnoea and confusion
A respiratory rate of 26 (≥ 22) and new confusion give 2 points. Systolic 118 does not count. A score of 2 is positive.
All three criteria
Respiratory rate 30, systolic 88 mmHg (≤ 100) and altered mentation each score a point, for the maximum qSOFA of 3.
Frequently asked questions
What qSOFA score is positive?+
A score of 2 or 3 out of 3 is considered positive. In the Sepsis-3 validation it identified adults with suspected infection who had a substantially higher risk of dying in hospital.
Is qSOFA the same as a sepsis diagnosis?+
No. Sepsis-3 defines sepsis as an acute rise of 2 or more points in the full SOFA score due to infection. qSOFA is only a quick prompt to look for that organ dysfunction.
What is the difference between qSOFA and SIRS?+
SIRS uses temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and white cell count and reflects inflammation; it is very sensitive but not specific. qSOFA uses respiratory rate, mentation and blood pressure and was better at predicting mortality outside the ICU, but it misses many early cases.
Should qSOFA be used for sepsis screening?+
The 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guideline makes a strong recommendation against using qSOFA compared with SIRS, NEWS or MEWS as a single screening tool for sepsis or septic shock, mainly because of its low sensitivity. It remains a useful marker of risk of poor outcome.
What counts as altered mentation?+
Any Glasgow Coma Scale score below 15, or a new change in mental state such as confusion, disorientation or drowsiness compared with the patient’s baseline.
For healthcare professionals and education only. This calculator implements a published formula or score but is not a diagnosis and does not replace clinical judgment. Verify inputs and results against the original source before using them in patient care.
Sources
- Singer M et al. The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA 2016
- Seymour CW et al. Assessment of Clinical Criteria for Sepsis (Sepsis-3). JAMA 2016
- Evans L et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021. Crit Care Med 2021