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Apgar Score Calculator

Q: When is the score assigned?

At 1 and 5 minutes after birth; if the 5-minute score is below 7, every 5 minutes up to 20 minutes. Resuscitation, when needed, begins before the 1-minute score.

Q: Does a low score mean brain injury?

No. A 5-minute score of 0–3 is associated with higher neonatal mortality at population level, but the score alone does not predict an individual infant's neurological outcome and is not evidence of asphyxia.

Q: Is the score valid in preterm infants?

Tone and reflex responses are lower in healthy preterm infants, so scores are lower without illness; the bands were described for term and late-preterm infants.

Sums the five Apgar components (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration), each scored 0–2, into the 0–10 newborn score and reports the AAP/ACOG interpretation band (7–10 reassuring, 4–6 moderately abnormal, 0–3 low).

Appearance (skin colour)Skin colour: blue_pale = 0, body_pink_extremities_blue = 1, completely_pink = 2. Pulse (heart rate)Heart rate: absent = 0, below_100 = 1, above_100 = 2. Grimace (reflex irritability)Response to stimulation: no_response = 0, grimace = 1, cry_or_cough = 2. Activity (muscle tone)Muscle tone: limp = 0, some_flexion = 1, active_motion = 2. Respiration (breathing)Breathing effort: absent = 0, weak_irregular = 1, strong_cry = 2.

When to use

You have the five observations of a newborn at 1, 5 or 10 minutes after birth and need the total Apgar score and its band.

Do not use when: You need to predict an individual infant's outcome or decide on resuscitation (the score does not direct resuscitation, which starts before the 1-minute score); results are informational and not medical advice.

Formula

apgar_score = appearance + pulse + grimace + activity + respiration, each 0, 1 or 2; 7–10 reassuring, 4–6 moderately abnormal, 0–3 low

Virginia Apgar's 1953 score with the interpretation bands of the 2015 AAP/ACOG Committee Opinion 644, which also notes that the score reflects prematurity, maternal medication and congenital conditions and is not evidence of asphyxia by itself. Results are informational only and not a substitute for clinical judgement or medical advice.

Inputs

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`appearance`	enum: blue_pale \| body_pink_extremities_blue \| completely_pink	yes	Skin colour: blue_pale = 0, body_pink_extremities_blue = 1, completely_pink = 2.
`pulse`	enum: absent \| below_100 \| above_100	yes	Heart rate: absent = 0, below_100 = 1, above_100 = 2.
`grimace`	enum: no_response \| grimace \| cry_or_cough	yes	Response to stimulation: no_response = 0, grimace = 1, cry_or_cough = 2.
`activity`	enum: limp \| some_flexion \| active_motion	yes	Muscle tone: limp = 0, some_flexion = 1, active_motion = 2.
`respiration`	enum: absent \| weak_irregular \| strong_cry	yes	Breathing effort: absent = 0, weak_irregular = 1, strong_cry = 2.

Outputs

Output	Type	Description
`apgar_score`	integer	Sum of the five components, 0–10.
`interpretation`	string	AAP/ACOG 2015 bands: 7–10 reassuring, 4–6 moderately abnormal, 0–3 low.
`component_scores`	object	Points for appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration.
`note`	string	Timing of the score and what it does and does not indicate.

Example

Pink, pulse >100, grimace, active, strong cry: {"appearance":"completely_pink","pulse":"above_100","grimace":"grimace","activity":"active_motion","respiration":"strong_cry"} → {"apgar_score":9,"interpretation":"Reassuring (7–10)","component_scores":{"appearance":2,"pulse":2,"grimace":1,"activity":2,"respiration":2}}

Blue, pulse <100, no response, limp, weak breathing: {"appearance":"blue_pale","pulse":"below_100","grimace":"no_response","activity":"limp","respiration":"weak_irregular"} → {"apgar_score":2,"interpretation":"Low (0–3)"}

GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/apgar-score?appearance=completely_pink&pulse=above_100&grimace=grimace&activity=active_motion&respiration=strong_cry

Machine access

API: GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/apgar-score (query parameters) or POST with a JSON body {"inputs": {...}}
Schema: https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculators/apgar-score · Markdown: https://tttkmbb.com/medical/apgar-score.md · JSON definition: https://tttkmbb.com/medical/apgar-score.json
MCP: server https://tttkmbb.com/mcp, tool run_calculator with calculator_id="apgar-score"
OpenAPI operationId: calculate_apgar_score
Freshness: static. Authentication: none. Rate limit: fair use (see rate limits).

Sources

FAQ

When is the score assigned?

At 1 and 5 minutes after birth; if the 5-minute score is below 7, every 5 minutes up to 20 minutes. Resuscitation, when needed, begins before the 1-minute score.

Does a low score mean brain injury?

No. A 5-minute score of 0–3 is associated with higher neonatal mortality at population level, but the score alone does not predict an individual infant's neurological outcome and is not evidence of asphyxia.

Is the score valid in preterm infants?

Tone and reflex responses are lower in healthy preterm infants, so scores are lower without illness; the bands were described for term and late-preterm infants.

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