Enter laboratory values
How to use this calculator
- Select the score model you need for your workflow.
- Enter the most recent lab values and pick units.
- Indicate dialysis status and sex when applicable.
- Click Calculate to view scores above the form.
- Use CSV or PDF export for documentation and sharing.
Formula used
Original MELD
MELD = 3.78*ln(bilirubin) + 11.2*ln(INR) + 9.57*ln(creatinine) + 6.43
- Natural log is used; values < 1.0 are set to 1.0.
- Creatinine is capped at 4.0 mg/dL; dialysis sets creatinine to 4.0.
- Scores are rounded and constrained to 6-40.
MELD-Na
MELD-Na = MELD + 1.32*(137-Na) - 0.033*MELD*(137-Na)
- Sodium is capped to 125-137 mmol/L.
- Allocation practice often applies MELD-Na only when MELD > 11.
- Scores are rounded and constrained to 6-40.
MELD 3.0
MELD 3.0 = round(1.33*Female + 4.56*ln(bili) + 0.82*(137-Na) - 0.24*(137-Na)*ln(bili) + 9.09*ln(INR) + 11.14*ln(creat) + 1.85*(3.5-alb) - 1.83*(3.5-alb)*ln(creat) + 6)
- Sodium is capped to 125-137; albumin to 1.5-3.5 g/dL.
- Creatinine is capped at 3.0 mg/dL; dialysis sets creatinine to 3.0.
- The calculator also shows a model-based 90-day mortality estimate.
Example data table
| Case | Bilirubin | INR | Creatinine | Sodium | Albumin | Dialysis | Sex | MELD | MELD-Na | MELD 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example A | 3.2 mg/dL | 1.8 | 1.4 mg/dL | 130 | 2.8 g/dL | No | Male | 21 | 25 | 25 |
| Example B | 10.5 mg/dL | 2.6 | 2.8 mg/dL | 128 | 2.2 g/dL | No | Female | 36 | 37 | 40 |
| Example C | 1.2 mg/dL | 1.1 | 5.0 mg/dL | 138 | 3.6 g/dL | Yes | Male | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Why MELD scores matter in liver care
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score converts laboratory results into an estimate of illness severity in advanced liver disease. It supports consistent triage and communication across services by reducing complex physiology into a single number. Higher values generally indicate greater risk and higher urgency for specialty review. This calculator presents the commonly used variants side by side to help teams compare how sodium, albumin, and sex adjustments can influence prioritization.
Inputs, units, and practical data quality
Results are only as reliable as the input data. Enter bilirubin, INR, and creatinine from the same sampling time whenever possible, because rapidly changing clinical states can make mixed timestamps misleading. Unit selectors are provided for bilirubin and creatinine, and the tool converts them into standardized values before applying each equation. Built-in floors and caps are applied to reflect common calculation rules, preventing impossible logarithms and limiting extremes that can occur with outlier measurements.
How the calculator handles caps and dialysis
Standard MELD methods apply minimum values of 1.0 for bilirubin, INR, and creatinine before logarithms are used. Creatinine is then capped to reduce disproportionate influence from very large values. For dialysis within the last seven days, creatinine is set to a fixed value consistent with typical scoring guidance. These rules are displayed in the formula section so clinicians and auditors can verify how each number was derived.
Interpreting MELD-Na and MELD 3.0 outputs
Sodium is incorporated to reflect the impact of hyponatremia, with sodium constrained to a defined range. MELD-Na may equal the original MELD when baseline MELD is low. MELD 3.0 adds albumin and a sex coefficient to improve risk discrimination. The page also shows a model-based 90-day mortality estimate for MELD 3.0 to support discussion, while emphasizing that individual risk depends on diagnosis and trajectory.
Documentation and reporting workflows
Clinical teams often need a traceable record for referrals, transplant discussions, or multidisciplinary reviews. After a calculation, the page exposes export buttons that generate a CSV for spreadsheets and a compact PDF summary for charts or email. Standardized inputs and all computed scores are included, helping ensure the reported result can be reproduced later. Use exports responsibly and confirm values against official systems when allocation decisions are involved. Recheck units and decimal placement before saving reports.
FAQs
1) Which MELD version should I use?
Use the version required by your local clinical or allocation policy. If unsure, compare Original MELD with MELD-Na, and use MELD 3.0 when albumin and sex adjustments are relevant.
2) Why does the calculator change values below 1.0?
Logarithms are used in MELD equations, and values below one can distort results. Setting a minimum of 1.0 is a standard rule to keep calculations stable and comparable.
3) How is dialysis handled?
If dialysis occurred within seven days, creatinine is set to a fixed value in the scoring rules. This reflects severe renal dysfunction even if a single lab value appears lower.
4) My sodium is 140. Why is it capped?
MELD-Na and MELD 3.0 constrain sodium to a defined range to prevent over-weighting mild hypernatremia. Values above the cap are treated as the cap for scoring.
5) Does the mortality estimate equal my patient’s true risk?
No. It is a model-based estimate for populations. Individual risk varies with diagnosis, infection, bleeding, encephalopathy, treatment response, and rapid lab changes.
6) Can I use this result for transplant listing decisions?
Use it as a calculation aid only. Always confirm against your institution’s official calculator or registry system before documentation, listing, or allocation-related decisions.