qSOFA Score Calculator

Quick bedside sepsis screening tool. Calculate qSOFA in seconds using three simple clinical criteria.

Important Clinical Disclaimer: qSOFA Calculator is intended for use by qualified healthcare professionals only. It is for educational and informational purposes and should not replace clinical judgement. Always interpret results alongside the full clinical picture and follow your local guidelines and protocols.
qSOFA Criteria

Score 1 point for each criterion present:

GCS <15 or any acute change in mental status
Tachypnoea indicating respiratory compensation
Hypotension suggesting cardiovascular compromise
Clinical Context
qSOFA is designed for patients with suspected infection
About qSOFA
What is qSOFA?

The Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) is a bedside scoring system introduced with the Sepsis-3 definitions in 2016. It was developed to quickly identify patients with suspected infection who are at higher risk of poor outcomes.

qSOFA Criteria

Score 1 point for each criterion present (score range 0-3):

Criterion Threshold Points
Altered mental status GCS <15 1
Respiratory rate ≥22/min 1
Systolic blood pressure ≤100 mmHg 1
Key Points
  • qSOFA ≥2 suggests higher risk of poor outcomes (ICU admission or death)
  • Should be used in patients with suspected infection
  • Does NOT require laboratory tests - purely clinical assessment
  • Designed for use outside the ICU (ED, wards, pre-hospital)
  • A positive qSOFA should prompt consideration of sepsis and further assessment
qSOFA vs SOFA vs NEWS2
Feature qSOFA SOFA NEWS2
Purpose Sepsis screening Organ dysfunction assessment Acute deterioration detection
Setting Non-ICU ICU All inpatient settings
Components 3 clinical criteria 6 organ systems 7 physiological parameters
Lab tests needed No Yes No (SpO₂ only)
Sensitivity for sepsis Lower Higher Higher
Specificity for sepsis Higher Higher Lower
UK recommendation Complementary tool ICU standard Standard EWS
NICE Guidance: In the UK, NEWS2 remains the standard early warning score. However, clinical suspicion of sepsis should trigger the Sepsis-6 bundle regardless of scores. qSOFA can complement clinical assessment but should not replace comprehensive evaluation.
Limitations
qSOFA has moderate sensitivity and high specificity. A negative qSOFA (score 0-1) does NOT rule out sepsis. Always use clinical judgement.
  • Sensitivity ~50%: About half of septic patients may have qSOFA <2
  • Not validated in all populations: Limited data in immunocompromised patients
  • Does not replace clinical judgement: A screening tool, not a diagnostic test
  • May not detect early sepsis: Designed to identify risk of poor outcomes, not early infection
  • Static assessment: Trends may be more informative than single measurements
Special Populations
  • Elderly: Baseline altered mental status may confound assessment
  • Chronic respiratory disease: May have elevated baseline respiratory rate
  • Antihypertensive medications: May have lower baseline blood pressure
  • Pregnancy: Physiological changes affect normal ranges
UK Sepsis Pathway
NICE NG51 - Sepsis: Recognition and Management

NICE recommends a structured approach to sepsis identification:

  1. Think sepsis: Consider in any patient with signs of infection
  2. Assess for red flags: High-risk criteria indicating severe illness
  3. Stratify risk: High, moderate, or low risk
  4. Act accordingly: Sepsis-6 bundle for high-risk patients
Sepsis-6 Bundle (within 1 hour)

THREE IN:

  1. High-flow oxygen (if SpO₂ <94%)
  2. IV fluids (crystalloid bolus)
  3. IV antibiotics (broad-spectrum)

THREE OUT:

  1. Blood cultures (before antibiotics)
  2. Lactate measurement
  3. Urine output monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions

qSOFA (Quick SOFA) is a simplified bedside scoring system introduced with Sepsis-3 in 2016. It uses three clinical criteria - altered mental status, respiratory rate ≥22/min, and systolic BP ≤100 mmHg - to identify patients with suspected infection who are at risk of poor outcomes.

A qSOFA score of ≥2 (out of 3) is considered positive and suggests higher risk of poor outcomes including ICU admission, prolonged hospital stay, and mortality. A positive qSOFA in a patient with suspected infection should prompt consideration of sepsis.

No. qSOFA is a simplified bedside screening tool using 3 clinical criteria, while SOFA is a comprehensive 6-organ system scoring requiring laboratory values. qSOFA is for initial screening; SOFA is used to confirm organ dysfunction and monitor patients in ICU.

In the UK, NEWS2 is the recommended early warning score for detecting deterioration. qSOFA is specifically designed for sepsis screening. NEWS2 is more sensitive but less specific for sepsis. NICE recommends using both clinical judgement and structured assessment for sepsis identification.
References
  1. Singer M, Deutschman CS, Seymour CW, et al. The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA. 2016;315(8):801-810. PubMed
  2. Seymour CW, Liu VX, Iwashyna TJ, et al. Assessment of Clinical Criteria for Sepsis: For the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA. 2016;315(8):762-774. PubMed
  3. NICE guideline [NG51]: Sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management. NICE
  4. Royal College of Physicians. National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2. RCP
  5. UK Sepsis Trust. Clinical Tools. Sepsis Trust
Disclaimer

This calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  • Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
  • Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information from this tool.
  • Clinical decision-making should always incorporate the full clinical context, patient preferences, and local protocols.
  • The creators of this tool accept no liability for decisions made based on its output.

If you are a patient: please discuss any results with your healthcare provider. This tool is designed for use by medical professionals and may not be appropriate for self-assessment.

qSOFA at a Glance

Score 1 point for each:

  • Altered mental status (GCS <15)
  • Respiratory rate ≥22/min
  • Systolic BP ≤100 mmHg

Score 0-1: Lower risk

Score ≥2: Higher risk - consider sepsis

Related Tools
Key Reminder

A negative qSOFA does NOT rule out sepsis. Always use clinical judgement. If you suspect sepsis based on clinical presentation, act on that suspicion regardless of score.

Clinical Pearl

qSOFA was designed to identify patients at risk of poor outcomes (ICU admission, mortality), not necessarily to diagnose sepsis. Consider it a prognostic indicator that should prompt further assessment, not a diagnostic test.