MELD 3.0, MELD-Na & Classic MELD Calculator

It reproduces current U.S. OPTN MELD arithmetic, historical U.S. MELD-Na, or classic MELD using the selected model’s inputs and transformations. It is not an official candidate record and does not submit data, assign exception points, or determine allocation.

Sources: [5, 6, 7]

No. Current U.S. OPTN MELD replaced historical MELD-Na in July 2023. This page keeps historical MELD-Na clearly labelled and separately reproduces the current formula; formal allocation remains the OPTN system using transplant-center-submitted data.

Sources: [4, 6, 8]

Classic MELD is 10 × [0.957 × ln(creatinine in mg/dL) + 0.378 × ln(total bilirubin in mg/dL) + 1.120 × ln(INR) + 0.643]. The historical implementation sets formula inputs below 1.0 to 1.0, applies its creatinine rule, rounds the score, and bounds it to 6–40.

Sources: [1, 2, 4]

Under the historical OPTN contract, sodium recalculates the score only when the initial classic MELD is greater than 11. At an initial score of 11 or lower, the historical MELD-Na result remains the classic score even when sodium is below 137 mEq/L.

Sources: [3, 4]

Those endpoints are part of the historical MELD-Na equation: lower submitted values are calculated as 125 and higher values as 137. They are not a laboratory reference interval, a treatment target, or permission to alter the measured value in the medical record.

Sources: [3, 4]

This is a published historical formula transformation that prevents negative logarithmic contributions from values below 1.0. It does not mean 1.0 is a universal normal value or that the laboratory result should be rewritten.

Sources: [1, 4]

For these historical equations, creatinine is set to 4.0 mg/dL when there were at least two dialysis treatments in the prior seven days or at least 24 hours of continuous veno-venous hemodialysis in that period. Otherwise it is bounded to 1.0–4.0 mg/dL for the formula.

Sources: [2, 4]

Use one coherent laboratory update and document collection times and major intervening treatment. Mixing bilirubin, creatinine, INR or sodium from materially different clinical states can produce a mathematically valid number that does not describe one comparable assessment.

Sources: [6, 7, 10]

Yes. INR can be affected by anticoagulants and laboratory methods as well as liver-related coagulopathy. The equation uses the reported number and cannot identify why it is elevated, decide whether it is suitable for a particular policy, or correct it for medication effects.

Sources: [6, 10]

No. Current U.S. allocation uses PELD for candidates younger than 12. The page requires the age-12-or-older population and returns no score when the under-12 option is selected.

Sources: [6, 7]

It must not replace the acute-liver-failure and Status 1A pathways. Acute liver failure, urgent listing, and other special statuses use separate definitions and transplant-program assessment that this historical arithmetic does not reproduce.

Sources: [9, 11]

No. MELD models were developed to rank short-term risk in defined cohorts. A single score does not provide a universal personal probability and does not capture every complication, comorbidity, treatment, trend, model era, or transplant benefit.

Sources: [1, 2, 5]

No. Current allocation uses official transplant-program data and policy, including the current model, exception and status pathways, donor and geographic factors, compatibility, and other rules. This page makes no referral, listing, admission, treatment, or organ-offer decision.

Sources: [7, 9, 10]

An exception score is assigned through an OPTN policy or review process when the calculated model does not adequately represent a candidate’s urgency. It is not calculated from the historical equation on this page, and a user cannot infer or self-assign it from one laboratory score.

Sources: [6, 9]

Not without clearly recording the version and inputs. The equations, coefficients, interactions and bounds differ, so a numerical change across versions may reflect the model change rather than only a clinical change. Trend comparisons should keep version and laboratory context consistent.

Sources: [1, 3, 5, 8]

OPTN Policy 9.1.D has a distinct current-MELD arithmetic branch for candidates registered before age 18 who are now at least 12. The page asks for this branch rather than treating it as the adult male formula.

Sources: [5, 6]

The 1.33 female term belongs to the current formula for candidates registered at age 18 or older. It is not an input to the registered-under-18 branch or to either historical model.

Sources: [5, 6]

Albumin and its interaction with creatinine are terms in the current formula. Albumin is bounded inside that formula; the bound is not a laboratory reference range or a reason to alter a reported result.

Sources: [5, 6]

Current formula creatinine is capped at 3.0 mg/dL, and qualifying renal support also sets it to 3.0. Classic and historical MELD-Na instead use their separate 4.0 mg/dL rule.

Sources: [4, 5, 6]

For current U.S. OPTN MELD, the documented criterion is at least two dialysis treatments, or at least 24 hours of CVVHD, within 7 days before the serum creatinine test. This page only reproduces that arithmetic input and cannot establish whether a clinical record meets policy requirements.

Sources: [4, 6, 7]