qSOFA of 0 or 1 – what does it mean?
⚠︎ Learning page – classification and study figures only, no treatment recommendation.
In short
A qSOFA of 0 or 1 is negative according to Sepsis-3. It does not exclude sepsis, because qSOFA has low sensitivity.
In the study by Seymour et al. (2016), most encounters with infection (73–90%) had fewer than 2 points; across the range of 0 to 3 points, in-hospital mortality ranged from 1% to 24%.
The figures describe groups in the cited studies, not the risk of an individual person. This page contains no treatment or management recommendation.
How 0–1 points come about
Each of the three criteria scores 1 point:
- 0 points: no criterion met
- 1 point: respiratory rate ≥ 22/min; altered mentation (GCS < 15); systolic BP ≤ 100 mmHg
What the derivation study describes
Seymour et al. (2016) derived qSOFA from 148,907 encounters with suspected infection in 12 hospitals and tested it in four further data sets. The derivation used GCS ≤ 13; a simpler definition (any altered mentation, GCS < 15) did not perform significantly differently.
Outside the ICU, qSOFA predicted in-hospital mortality with an AUROC of 0.81. Across the range of 0 to 3 points, mortality ranged from 1% to 24%. Most encounters with infection (73–90%) had fewer than 2 points.
Not a sole screening tool
The 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommends against using qSOFA compared with SIRS, NEWS or MEWS as a single screening tool for sepsis or septic shock, because its sensitivity is low.
Both ranges at a glance
| qSOFA | Interpretation (Sepsis-3) |
|---|---|
| 0–1 | negative |
| 2–3 | positive |
Calculate it yourself
Enter the criteria in the qSOFA score calculator – it runs only in your browser.
FAQ
What does a qSOFA of 1 mean?▾
One of the three criteria is met. According to Sepsis-3, qSOFA is then negative; this does not exclude sepsis.
Does a qSOFA of 0 exclude sepsis?▾
No. qSOFA has low sensitivity; a negative result does not exclude sepsis.
References
- Singer M et al. The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA 2016;315:801–10. · PubMed
- Seymour CW et al. Assessment of clinical criteria for sepsis (Sepsis-3). JAMA 2016;315:762–74. · PubMed · full text (PMC)
- Evans L et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock 2021. Crit Care Med 2021;49:e1063–e1143. · PubMed
Learning page for medical education only: classification and figures reported in the cited sources, no treatment or management recommendation, not for use in patients; not a medical device. Last updated: 10/2026 · Dr. Pascal Bafteh