Health calculators

Fib 4 Calculator

Updated Aug 6, 2026 By Jehan Wadia
Threshold Set
Active cutoffs: Low < 1.30 · Indeterminate 1.30 – 2.67 · High > 2.67
Patient Age & Laboratory Values
years
U/L
U/L
Enter the raw ALT value — the calculator applies √ALT internally.
1 × 10⁹/L = 1 × 10³/µL — the numeric value is identical in both units.
FIB-4 Index
Awaiting values
Enter age, AST, ALT and platelet count to calculate the FIB-4 index.
Clinical guidance appears here once a valid FIB-4 score is calculated.
Comparison against the alternate threshold set appears here once a valid score is calculated.
Step-by-Step Solution
Score Position Within Risk Zones
Active Threshold Set
FIB-4 Score Zone Interpretation
Formula source: Sterling RK, et al. Hepatology. 2006;43(6):1317–1325.
All calculations are performed locally in your browser. No data is collected or transmitted.

Introduction

The FIB-4 Calculator is a free tool that helps estimate liver scarring, also called fibrosis. It uses four simple numbers: your age, your AST level, your ALT level, and your platelet count. You can get all of these from a normal blood test.

Liver scarring often has no signs early on. The FIB-4 index gives doctors a quick, low-cost way to spot people who may have advanced fibrosis. It is often used for fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD), hepatitis C, and other long-term liver problems.

Your score falls into one of three zones. A low score means bad scarring is unlikely. A middle score means more tests may be needed. A high score means scarring or cirrhosis may be present. This tool shows your score, the zone you are in, and the full math behind it, step by step.

You can pick between two sets of cutoffs: the NAFLD/general set or the original hepatitis C study set from Sterling et al. (2006). The calculator also shows how your score would be read under the other set.

The FIB-4 index is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It works best for people between 35 and 65 years old. Always talk with a doctor about your results. If your score points to advanced disease, your care team may also look at scores like the MELD Calculator, the MELD 3.0 Calculator, or the Child Pugh Calculator.

How to use our FIB-4 Calculator

Enter your age and three blood test results — AST, ALT, and platelet count. The FIB-4 calculator gives you a FIB-4 score, tells you your risk zone for liver fibrosis, and shows the math step by step.

Threshold Set: Pick which cutoffs to use. Choose "NAFLD / General" for most patients, or "Original HCV Study" for hepatitis C. The score stays the same, but the risk zones change.

Age: Type your age in years. The tool warns you if you are under 35 or over 65, since FIB-4 is less accurate at those ages. If you are not sure of your exact age, our Age Calculator works it out from your birth date.

AST: Type your aspartate aminotransferase level in U/L from your blood test. A normal range is about 15 to 41 U/L.

ALT: Type your alanine aminotransferase level in U/L. Use the plain number from your lab report — the calculator takes the square root for you. To compare the two enzymes on their own, try the AST ALT Ratio Calculator. You can also check the math by hand with our Square Root Calculator.

Platelet Count: Type your platelet count and pick the unit: × 10⁹/L or × 10³/µL. Both units use the same number, so the score does not change.

Press Calculate to see your FIB-4 score, risk zone, chart, and full solution. Press Reset to start over with the sample values.

What Is the FIB-4 Index?

The FIB-4 index is a simple blood test score that estimates how much scarring (fibrosis) a person may have in their liver. Doctors use it as a first check before ordering more tests. It does not need a needle biopsy. It only needs a patient's age and three lab values that most people already get in routine blood work.

What Goes Into the Score

  • Age – in years. Liver scarring gets more common as people get older.
  • AST – aspartate aminotransferase, a liver enzyme measured in U/L.
  • ALT – alanine aminotransferase, another liver enzyme in U/L.
  • Platelet count – measured as ×10⁹/L or ×10³/µL. Both units use the same number. Platelets often drop when the liver is badly scarred.

The FIB-4 formula is: (Age × AST) ÷ (Platelets × √ALT). A higher score points to more possible scarring.

What the FIB-4 Score Means

Two sets of cutoffs are common. For fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD) and general use, a score under 1.30 means advanced fibrosis is unlikely, 1.30 to 2.67 is unclear, and over 2.67 suggests advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis may be present. The original study by Sterling and colleagues, done in patients with hepatitis C and HIV, used 1.45 and 3.25 instead. A low score is very good at ruling scarring out. A high score is a warning sign that needs follow-up, such as elastography (FibroScan), imaging, or a liver biopsy.

Who Uses FIB-4

Primary care doctors, liver specialists (hepatologists), and diabetes doctors use FIB-4 to screen people at risk of liver disease. That includes people with fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, obesity, hepatitis B or C, or heavy alcohol use. It helps decide who needs to see a specialist and who can simply be watched over time. Related checks often done at the same visit include the a1c Calculator for blood sugar, the BMI Calculator and Waist to Height Ratio Calculator for body size, the Cholesterol Ratio Calculator for lipids, and the Alcohol Unit Calculator for drinking habits. Kidney function is often reviewed too, using the GFR Calculator or Creatinine Clearance Calculator.

Limits to Keep in Mind

FIB-4 is an estimate, not a diagnosis. It is less accurate in people under 35, where it can miss real disease, and in people over 65, where it can flag scarring that is not there. Other things can also shift the score, such as recent illness, alcohol binges, blood disorders that lower platelets, or medicines that raise liver enzymes. Always read the score together with a full clinical picture, and repeat testing over time to watch for change. Lifestyle change is the main treatment for fatty liver, so tools like the Calorie Deficit Calculator, Weight Loss Calculator, and TDEE Calculator can help you plan next steps with your doctor.


Formulas used

FIB-4 Index
\text{FIB-4}=\frac{\text{Age (years)}\times\text{AST (U/L)}}{\text{Platelets}\times\sqrt{\text{ALT (U/L)}}}
Numerator
\text{Numerator}=\text{Age}\times\text{AST}
Denominator
\text{Denominator}=\text{Platelets}\times\sqrt{\text{ALT}}
Risk zone classification (NAFLD / General thresholds)
\text{Zone}=\begin{cases}\text{Low Risk} & \text{FIB-4} < 1.30\\ \text{Indeterminate} & 1.30 \le \text{FIB-4} \le 2.67\\ \text{High Risk} & \text{FIB-4} > 2.67\end{cases}
Risk zone classification (Original HCV study thresholds)
\text{Zone}=\begin{cases}\text{Low Risk} & \text{FIB-4} < 1.45\\ \text{Indeterminate} & 1.45 \le \text{FIB-4} \le 3.25\\ \text{High Risk} & \text{FIB-4} > 3.25\end{cases}

Frequently asked questions

Is a FIB-4 score of 1.5 bad?

It depends on which cutoffs you use. With the NAFLD/general set, 1.5 lands in the middle (indeterminate) zone, so more testing may be needed. With the hepatitis C set, 1.5 is also in the middle zone, but just barely. A middle score is not a diagnosis. It means your doctor needs more information, like a FibroScan.

What is a normal FIB-4 score?

There is no single normal number, but a score under 1.30 is considered low risk for most adults. Low scores are very good at ruling advanced scarring out. Many healthy people score well below 1.00.

Which threshold set should I pick?

Pick NAFLD / General if you have fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity, or you are just screening. Pick Original HCV Study if you have hepatitis C. Your score does not change when you switch. Only the risk zones change.

Do I need to enter my platelet count in a special unit?

No. The two options, × 10⁹/L and × 10³/µL, use the exact same number. A platelet count of 180 is 180 in both. The unit picker is there so your lab report matches what you see on screen.

Should I take the square root of ALT myself?

No. Type the plain ALT number from your lab report. The calculator takes the square root for you and shows that step in the solution.

Why does my platelet count matter for liver scarring?

A badly scarred liver raises pressure in the vein that feeds it. That makes the spleen bigger, and the spleen traps platelets. So platelets often drop as scarring gets worse. Low platelets push the FIB-4 score up.

Can I use this calculator if I am under 35 or over 65?

You can, but read the score with care. Under 35, FIB-4 can miss real scarring. Over 65, it can flag scarring that is not there. The tool shows a warning when your age falls outside 35 to 65.

My score is high. What happens next?

A high score is a flag, not a diagnosis. Your doctor will likely order more tests, such as elastography (FibroScan), an ultrasound or MRI, or in some cases a liver biopsy. Do not panic, but do not skip the follow-up.

Can my FIB-4 score go down?

Yes. Weight loss, cutting alcohol, better blood sugar control, and treating hepatitis can all lower enzymes and improve the score over time. Early scarring can also heal. Keep testing to track the change.

How often should FIB-4 be repeated?

Many doctors repeat it every one to three years for low-risk patients, and more often if the score is in the middle or high zone or if your health changes. Your doctor sets the schedule.

What can make my FIB-4 score wrong?

Several things can shift it:

  • A recent illness or infection
  • A recent heavy drinking episode
  • Blood disorders that lower platelets
  • Medicines that raise liver enzymes
  • Muscle injury or hard exercise raising AST

Use the score with your full health picture, not on its own.

Does FIB-4 work for hepatitis B?

It is used in hepatitis B, but it works less well than in hepatitis C or fatty liver. Many hepatitis B patients have normal enzymes even with real scarring. Doctors usually pair it with other tests.

Is FIB-4 the same as a FibroScan?

No. FIB-4 is a math score from blood work. A FibroScan is a machine that measures liver stiffness with sound waves. FibroScan is more exact. FIB-4 is cheaper and is often used first to decide who needs a FibroScan.

Can FIB-4 replace a liver biopsy?

Not fully. A biopsy is still the gold standard. But a clear low score can help you avoid a biopsy, and a high score helps show who really needs one.

Why is my score different from another FIB-4 calculator?

The formula is the same everywhere. Differences usually come from rounding, or from the other site using different cutoffs. Check that both tools use the same threshold set and the same lab values.

Does the calculator save my health data?

No. All math runs in your browser. Nothing is sent, stored, or shared.

What does the indeterminate zone really mean?

It means the test cannot tell you yes or no. Roughly a third of people fall here. It is not a middle amount of scarring. It just means you need another test to sort it out.

Can I have liver scarring with a low FIB-4 score?

Yes, but it is less likely. In the original study a low score ruled out advanced fibrosis about 90% of the time. If you have symptoms or strong risk factors, tell your doctor even with a low score.

Do I need to fast before the blood test?

Not for FIB-4 itself. AST, ALT, and platelets do not need fasting. But your doctor may order other tests, like cholesterol or glucose, that do. Follow the lab's instructions.

Why does age raise the score so much?

Age is multiplied straight into the top of the formula, so an older age gives a higher score. Scarring does build up with age, but this is also why FIB-4 over-calls disease in people over 65.