MELD Calculator

Q: What blood tests do I need before using the MELD calculator?

You need five lab values: serum creatinine , total bilirubin , INR (International Normalized Ratio), serum sodium , and serum albumin . These are all standard blood tests your doctor can order. Use the most recent results for the most accurate score.

Q: What is the difference between MELD 2016, MELD-Na, and MELD 3.0?

MELD 2016 uses only creatinine, bilirubin, and INR. MELD-Na adds sodium to that same formula. MELD 3.0 adds albumin and a small adjustment for biological sex. MELD 3.0 is the most accurate version and is the current standard used for transplant listing in the United States.

Q: Which MELD version does UNOS currently use?

UNOS currently uses MELD 3.0 for liver transplant allocation decisions. It replaced MELD-Na in 2022. This calculator marks MELD 3.0 as the "Current Standard" in the results.

Q: How does dialysis affect the MELD score?

When you select Yes for dialysis, the calculator sets creatinine to 4.0 mg/dL for MELD 2016 and MELD-Na, and to 3.0 mg/dL for MELD 3.0. This is because dialysis changes creatinine in a way that does not reflect how well the liver is working. The entered creatinine value is ignored.

Q: Can I enter lab values in different units?

Yes. You can enter creatinine in mg/dL or µmol/L , bilirubin in mg/dL or µmol/L , and sodium in mEq/L or mmol/L . Click the unit button next to each field to switch. The calculator converts everything to the correct unit before computing the scores.

Q: What is the lowest possible MELD score?

The lowest MELD score is 6 . Even if all lab values are completely normal, the formula produces a minimum score around 6. A low score means the liver disease is not severe at this time.

MELD Calculator

Updated Jun 26, 2026 By Jehan Wadia

Introduction

The MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) is a number that shows how sick a person's liver is. Doctors use it to figure out how urgent a patient's need for a liver transplant is. A higher score means the liver disease is more serious. The score is based on simple blood test results like creatinine, bilirubin, INR, sodium, and albumin.

There are three versions of the MELD score. MELD 2016 (also called Classic MELD) was the original formula. MELD-Na added sodium to improve accuracy. MELD 3.0 is the current standard used by UNOS for transplant listing. It includes albumin and accounts for differences between male and female patients. This calculator computes all three versions side by side so you can compare them.

To use this tool, enter the patient's biological sex, age bracket, dialysis status, and lab values. The calculator will apply the correct boundary rules, show each score, estimate 90-day survival, and display a full step-by-step breakdown of the math. It works for adults 18 and older and for adolescents ages 12 to 17. Patients under 12 should use the PELD (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease) score instead.

How to Use Our MELD Calculator

Enter your patient's basic details and lab values below. The calculator will return three MELD scores — MELD 2016, MELD-Na, and MELD 3.0 — along with mortality risk, 90-day survival, and a step-by-step breakdown of each formula.

Biological Sex: Select Male or Female. This is used in the MELD 3.0 formula, which adds 1.33 points for female patients aged 18 and older.

Age Bracket: Choose whether the patient is under 12 or 12 and older. Patients under 12 should use the PELD calculator instead, as MELD is not validated for that age group.

Age Range (12+): If the patient is 12 or older, select whether they are 12 to 17 or 18 and older. Patients aged 12 to 17 use a different constant in the MELD 3.0 formula.

Dialysis Status: Select Yes if the patient has had dialysis at least twice in the past week or has been on CVVHD for 24 or more hours. When set to Yes, the calculator automatically raises creatinine to its cap value.

Serum Creatinine: Enter the creatinine level and choose your unit — mg/dL or µmol/L. Values are floored to 1.0 and capped at 4.0 mg/dL for MELD 2016 and MELD-Na, or 3.0 mg/dL for MELD 3.0. For a broader assessment of kidney function based on creatinine, you may also find our Creatinine Clearance Calculator or GFR Calculator useful.

Total Bilirubin: Enter the total bilirubin level in mg/dL or µmol/L. Values below 1.0 mg/dL are set to 1.0 in all three formulas.

INR (International Normalized Ratio): Enter the INR value. Values below 1.0 are set to 1.0 in all formulas.

Serum Sodium: Enter the sodium level in mEq/L or mmol/L. Values below 125 are set to 125, and values above 137 are set to 137. If you need to evaluate electrolyte balance more broadly, our Serum Osmolality Calculator can help.

Serum Albumin: Enter the albumin level in g/dL. This is used only in the MELD 3.0 formula. Values below 1.5 are set to 1.5, and values above 3.5 are set to 3.5.

Click Calculate to see your results. Click Reset to clear all fields and start over.

What Is the MELD Score?

The MELD score stands for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease. It is a number that doctors use to measure how sick a person's liver is. The score ranges from 6 to 40. A higher number means the liver is more damaged and the patient is more urgently in need of a liver transplant.

Hospitals and organ-sharing networks like UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) use the MELD score to decide who gets a donor liver first. The sickest patients — those with the highest scores — are placed higher on the transplant waiting list. Another widely used liver disease classification is the Child-Pugh score, which you can compute with our Child Pugh Calculator.

What Does This Calculator Do?

This calculator takes a patient's lab values — creatinine, bilirubin, INR, sodium, and albumin — and computes three versions of the MELD score at once:

MELD 2016 (Classic): The original formula that uses creatinine, bilirubin, and INR.
MELD-Na: An updated version adopted in 2016 that adds sodium to the classic formula. Low sodium levels are linked to worse outcomes in liver disease.
MELD 3.0: The current standard, introduced in 2022. It adds albumin and a small adjustment for biological sex. This version is more accurate at predicting 90-day survival.

Who Is the MELD Score For?

The MELD score is used for patients aged 12 and older with chronic liver disease. Children under 12 use a different scoring system called PELD (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease). Patients aged 12 to 17 use a slightly modified version of MELD 3.0 with a different constant built into the formula.

Why Do Lab Values Get Capped or Floored?

The MELD formulas set minimum and maximum limits on certain lab values. For example, if a patient's creatinine is below 1.0 mg/dL, the formula treats it as 1.0. If it is above 4.0 mg/dL (or 3.0 for MELD 3.0), the formula caps it at that limit. These rules come directly from the published research and UNOS policy. They keep the score within a meaningful range.

Patients on dialysis automatically have their creatinine set to the cap value because dialysis changes creatinine levels in a way that does not reflect true liver function.

What Do the Scores Mean?

Score 6–9: Low severity. Estimated 3-month mortality is about 1.9%.
Score 10–19: Moderate severity. Estimated 3-month mortality is about 6%. A score of 10 or higher often triggers a referral to a liver specialist.
Score 20–29: High severity. Estimated 3-month mortality is about 19.6%.
Score 30–39: Very high severity. Estimated 3-month mortality is about 52.6%.
Score 40: Critical. Estimated 3-month mortality is about 71.3%.

For a complementary view of liver disease severity, clinicians often use the Child-Pugh classification alongside MELD. You can calculate it with our Child Pugh Calculator. Other lab-based tools that may be relevant in a hepatology workup include the AST ALT Ratio Calculator, the Anion Gap Calculator, and the Corrected Calcium Calculator.

Important: This calculator is an educational tool. It does not replace a doctor's judgment. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your results and treatment options.

Formulas used

MELD 2016 (Classic)

\text{MELD}_{2016} = \bigl(0.957 \times \ln(\text{Cr}) + 0.378 \times \ln(\text{Bili}) + 1.12 \times \ln(\text{INR}) + 0.643\bigr) \times 10

MELD-Na

\text{MELD-Na} = \text{MELD}(i) + 1.32 \times (137 - \text{Na}) - 0.033 \times \text{MELD}(i) \times (137 - \text{Na}) \quad (\text{when MELD}(i) > 11)

MELD 3.0

\text{MELD 3.0} = 4.56 \ln(\text{Bili}) + 0.82(137 - \text{Na}) - 0.24(137 - \text{Na})\ln(\text{Bili}) + 9.09 \ln(\text{INR}) + 11.14 \ln(\text{Cr}) + 1.85(3.5 - \text{Alb}) - 1.83(3.5 - \text{Alb})\ln(\text{Cr}) + C

MELD 3.0 Constant (C)

C = \begin{cases} 7.33 & \text{if age 12--17} \\ 6 + 1.33 & \text{if adult female} \\ 6 & \text{if adult male} \end{cases}

90-Day Survival (MELD 3.0)

\text{Survival (\%)} = 0.946^{\,\exp(0.17698 \times \text{MELD 3.0} - 3.56)} \times 100

Frequently asked questions

What blood tests do I need before using the MELD calculator?

You need five lab values: serum creatinine, total bilirubin, INR (International Normalized Ratio), serum sodium, and serum albumin. These are all standard blood tests your doctor can order. Use the most recent results for the most accurate score.

What is the difference between MELD 2016, MELD-Na, and MELD 3.0?

MELD 2016 uses only creatinine, bilirubin, and INR. MELD-Na adds sodium to that same formula. MELD 3.0 adds albumin and a small adjustment for biological sex. MELD 3.0 is the most accurate version and is the current standard used for transplant listing in the United States.

Which MELD version does UNOS currently use?

UNOS currently uses MELD 3.0 for liver transplant allocation decisions. It replaced MELD-Na in 2022. This calculator marks MELD 3.0 as the "Current Standard" in the results.

Why is my creatinine value changed after I click Calculate?

The MELD formulas have built-in boundary rules. Creatinine below 1.0 mg/dL is raised to 1.0. Creatinine above 4.0 mg/dL is lowered to 4.0 for MELD 2016 and MELD-Na, or to 3.0 for MELD 3.0. If dialysis is selected, creatinine is automatically set to the cap value. The calculator shows these changes in the Adjusted Inputs summary.

How does dialysis affect the MELD score?

When you select Yes for dialysis, the calculator sets creatinine to 4.0 mg/dL for MELD 2016 and MELD-Na, and to 3.0 mg/dL for MELD 3.0. This is because dialysis changes creatinine in a way that does not reflect how well the liver is working. The entered creatinine value is ignored.

Why does biological sex matter in MELD 3.0?

Research found that female patients with liver disease had worse outcomes than their MELD scores predicted. MELD 3.0 corrects this by adding 1.33 points for female patients aged 18 and older. This adjustment does not apply to patients aged 12 to 17 or to the older MELD 2016 and MELD-Na formulas.

Can I enter lab values in different units?

Yes. You can enter creatinine in mg/dL or µmol/L, bilirubin in mg/dL or µmol/L, and sodium in mEq/L or mmol/L. Click the unit button next to each field to switch. The calculator converts everything to the correct unit before computing the scores.

What does the 90-day survival percentage mean?

The 90-day survival is shown only for MELD 3.0. It estimates the chance that a patient will survive the next 90 days without a transplant. A higher percentage means a better outlook. It is calculated using the MELD 3.0 score and a published survival formula.

What is the highest possible MELD score?

The maximum MELD score is 40 for all three versions. If the formula produces a number higher than 40, it is capped at 40. A score of 40 means the patient has the most urgent need for a liver transplant.

What is the lowest possible MELD score?

The lowest MELD score is 6. Even if all lab values are completely normal, the formula produces a minimum score around 6. A low score means the liver disease is not severe at this time.

Why do my three MELD scores show different numbers?

Each version uses a different formula. MELD-Na includes sodium, and MELD 3.0 adds albumin and a sex-based adjustment. When the scores land in different severity bands, the calculator shows a yellow warning reminding you that MELD 3.0 is the current clinical standard.

What does the step-by-step solution show?

It breaks down every calculation into five steps: applying boundary rules to your inputs, computing MELD 2016, computing MELD-Na, computing MELD 3.0, and estimating 90-day survival. Each step shows the actual numbers and math so you can verify the result by hand.

Can I use this calculator for a child under 12?

No. If you select Under 12 for the age bracket, the calculator will tell you to use the PELD (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease) score instead. MELD is not validated for children younger than 12.

How is MELD different for patients aged 12 to 17?

Patients aged 12 to 17 use the same MELD 3.0 formula as adults, but with a different constant. Instead of adding 6 (plus 1.33 for females), the formula adds 7.33 for all adolescents regardless of sex. MELD 2016 and MELD-Na are calculated the same way for all ages 12 and up.

How often should the MELD score be recalculated?

It depends on the score. Patients with higher scores are retested more often. In general, UNOS requires updated labs every 7 days for scores of 25 or higher, every 30 days for scores of 19–24, and every 90 days for scores below 19. Your transplant center will set the exact schedule.

Does a higher MELD score always mean I need a transplant?

Not always. A higher score means the liver disease is more serious, but treatment decisions depend on many factors. Some patients improve with medical treatment. The MELD score is one tool doctors use alongside physical exams, imaging, and other tests. Always discuss your results with your doctor.

Why is albumin only used in MELD 3.0?

The original MELD and MELD-Na formulas were developed without albumin. Later research showed that low albumin is a strong predictor of poor outcomes in liver disease. MELD 3.0 added albumin to improve prediction accuracy. Values below 1.5 g/dL are set to 1.5, and values above 3.5 g/dL are set to 3.5.

What if my sodium is normal — does it still affect the score?

Sodium values above 137 mEq/L are capped at 137 in the formula. At that level, sodium adds zero extra points to both MELD-Na and MELD 3.0. So a normal or high sodium level does not raise your score. Only low sodium (below 137) increases the score.

Is this calculator a substitute for a doctor?

No. This calculator is an educational tool. It helps you understand MELD scores and how they are computed. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your results and next steps.

MELD Score Results