qSOFA Score Calculator – Sepsis Risk Screening

The quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score is a bedside clinical tool developed to rapidly identify adult patients outside the intensive care unit who are at elevated risk of poor outcomes due to sepsis-related organ dysfunction. It was introduced as part of the Sepsis-3 definitions in 2016 by a task force of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. The qSOFA score consists of three criteria, each worth one point: a respiratory rate at or above 22 breaths per minute, a systolic blood pressure at or below 100 mmHg, and altered mentation defined as a Glasgow Coma Scale score below 15. These three variables were selected because they are universally available without laboratory testing, making the score applicable in any clinical environment — from the emergency department to the general ward, to prehospital settings. A score of 0 is considered low risk: the patient is unlikely to have significant organ dysfunction at that moment, though clinical reassessment remains important if the suspicion for infection persists. A score of 1 represents an intermediate risk level and warrants closer monitoring and consideration of further investigation, such as blood cultures, lactate measurement, and organ function panels. A score of 2 or 3 indicates high risk and should prompt urgent evaluation, initiation of the sepsis treatment bundle (including early antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, and blood cultures), and consideration of ICU-level care. Important limitations of qSOFA should be understood. The tool is designed as a screening instrument, not a definitive diagnostic test. It has moderate sensitivity and specificity for sepsis. Patients with high clinical suspicion for sepsis should be evaluated regardless of qSOFA score, and other validated tools such as SOFA, SIRS criteria, and NEWS2 may provide additional information. The qSOFA does not replace clinical judgment and should be used as one component of a comprehensive assessment. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) used in qSOFA reflects level of consciousness and neurological function. A full GCS of 15 indicates a normally awake, alert, and oriented patient. Any reduction from 15 — whether from confusion, drowsiness, or decreased responsiveness — counts as the altered mentation criterion. In the original validation, even a subtle change such as a GCS of 14 was sufficient to score this criterion. This calculator is for educational and clinical decision-support purposes only. Always apply qSOFA findings in the context of the full clinical picture, local sepsis protocols, and senior clinician review.