qSOFA Score Calculator
Use the quick SOFA (qSOFA) score to flag patients with suspected infection who are at higher risk of a poor outcome and may be developing sepsis. It is a fast bedside check of three things — breathing rate, mental state and blood pressure — needing no blood tests. Tick the criteria that are present to get the score; two or three suggests the patient warrants closer assessment for sepsis and organ dysfunction.
About qSOFA
The quick Sequential (Sepsis-related) Organ Failure Assessment is a bedside prompt introduced with the Sepsis-3 definitions to identify patients with suspected infection at higher risk of poor outcomes. Source: Singer M et al., “The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3),” JAMA 2016;315(8):801–810.
Frequently asked questions
What are the qSOFA criteria?
There are three qSOFA criteria, each worth one point: a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute or more; altered mental status (a Glasgow Coma Scale under 15, i.e. anything less than fully alert and oriented); and a systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or lower. The total ranges from 0 to 3, and it needs only a look at the patient and a set of basic observations.
What does a qSOFA of 2 or more mean?
A qSOFA of 2 or 3 in a patient with suspected infection identifies someone at higher risk of dying or needing a prolonged intensive-care stay. It is a prompt to look harder — to escalate monitoring, consider blood tests including lactate, calculate the full SOFA score and start sepsis treatment if confirmed — not a diagnosis of sepsis by itself. Two of the three criteria are enough, so a patient breathing at 24 a minute with a systolic of 96 mmHg scores 2 even if fully alert. A score of 0 or 1 lowers the probability but does not exclude sepsis, so a patient who is deteriorating still needs review regardless of the number.
Is qSOFA the same as sepsis?
qSOFA is not the same as sepsis. It is a quick screening prompt introduced with the Sepsis-3 definitions in 2016 to identify, outside the ICU, patients whose infection may be causing organ dysfunction. Sepsis itself is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response to infection, measured by a rise in the full SOFA score. A low qSOFA does not rule sepsis out.
How does qSOFA compare with SIRS and NEWS?
qSOFA is simpler than the full SOFA score and was designed to be quick at the bedside. Compared with the older SIRS criteria it is more specific but less sensitive, so it can miss early cases; many services now use it alongside, or in place of, other track-and-trigger tools such as the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2). Use it as one input, not the sole trigger.
Who is it for?
qSOFA is intended for adults with known or suspected infection, particularly in the emergency department, on general wards and in pre-hospital care. It is not a substitute for clinical judgement and does not apply to children, who have their own scores. This calculator is an educational reference, not medical advice.
This is a reference tool, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Results depend on the laboratory, assay and clinical context, and reference intervals vary between labs and by age and sex — always read your result against the range printed on your own report and discuss it with a qualified healthcare professional.
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