Sepsis Calculator (Sepsis-3 Criteria)

Score the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) - respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and mental status - to flag patients with suspected infection who face a higher risk of a poor outcome under the Sepsis-3 definitions.

Quick Facts

Score range
0 to 3 points
One point each for respiratory rate 22/min or higher, systolic blood pressure 100 mmHg or lower, and altered mentation.
Threshold
Score of 2 or higher
Flags patients with suspected infection at greater risk of a poor outcome and prompts further assessment.

Your Results

Calculated
qSOFA score
-
Total points (0-3)
Criteria met
-
Out of 3 possible
Risk category
-
Sepsis-3 threshold at 2+
Suggested next step
-
Bedside screening only

Ready

Enter the three qSOFA criteria, then calculate the score.

About the qSOFA (Sepsis-3) score

The quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, or qSOFA, is a bedside screening score introduced with the 2016 Sepsis-3 consensus definitions. It was designed to be calculated at the bedside without waiting on laboratory results, using three simple observations: respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and mental status. Under Sepsis-3, sepsis itself is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, and is formally identified by a rise of 2 or more points in the full Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. qSOFA is a faster screen meant to flag patients outside the ICU who may warrant that fuller work-up.

How the score is built

  • Respiratory rate: 1 point if 22 breaths per minute or higher, otherwise 0.
  • Systolic blood pressure: 1 point if 100 mmHg or lower, otherwise 0.
  • Altered mentation: 1 point if the Glasgow Coma Scale is below 15 (any deviation from normal alertness), otherwise 0.

The three points sum to a total from 0 to 3. qSOFA is intended for patients with suspected or confirmed infection; it was derived and validated in that population, so applying it without a plausible infectious source is off-label use of the tool.

Putting the result in context

A qSOFA score of 2 or higher identifies a group at greater risk of a poor outcome, such as prolonged ICU stay or death, than a lower score. That threshold is a prompt to look further for organ dysfunction, for example with a full SOFA score, serum lactate, blood cultures, and closer monitoring, not a stand-alone diagnosis of sepsis. A score below 2 is reassuring but does not exclude sepsis, particularly early in its course, so ongoing clinical judgment still matters.

When to consult a professional

This tool performs the standard qSOFA arithmetic for education and quick reference. It is not a diagnosis and does not direct treatment. Any concern for sepsis or infection should be evaluated promptly by a qualified healthcare provider, who can order the labs and full assessment that qSOFA cannot replace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the qSOFA score and how is it calculated?
The quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) is a bedside score from the 2016 Sepsis-3 consensus definitions. It awards one point each for a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute or higher, a systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or lower, and altered mentation (a Glasgow Coma Scale below 15). The three points are added for a total score from 0 to 3.
What does a qSOFA score of 2 or higher mean?
In a patient with suspected or confirmed infection, a qSOFA score of 2 or higher identifies a group at greater risk of a poor outcome, such as prolonged ICU stay or death, compared with a lower score. It is a prompt to look further for organ dysfunction, for example with a full SOFA score, lactate level, and blood cultures, not a diagnosis of sepsis by itself.
Is qSOFA the same as diagnosing sepsis?
No. Under the Sepsis-3 definitions, sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction from a dysregulated host response to infection, formally identified by a rise in the full SOFA score of 2 points or more. qSOFA is a quick screening tool meant to flag patients outside the ICU who may need that fuller assessment; it was not designed to replace it.

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