APGAR Score

APGARNewborn Clinical Assessment

Clinical Signs

Appearance (Skin Color)

Pulse (Heart Rate)

Grimace (Reflex Irritability)

Activity (Muscle Tone)

Respiration (Breathing Effort)

Record score at 1 and 5 minutes. If the 5-minute score is < 7, continue scoring every 5 minutes up to 20 minutes. Do not delay resuscitation to calculate the APGAR score.

APGAR Calculator

Select a value for all 5 clinical signs (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) to view the total score and interpretation.

Guidelines & Evidence

Verified

Last Review: 2026

When to Use

Primary Clinical Uses

Standardised rapid assessment of a newborn's physical condition immediately after birth

Documenting transition to extrauterine life at 1 and 5 minutes post-partum

Guiding the potential need for escalated monitoring or prolonged observation

When NOT to Use

Do NOT use the APGAR score to determine the initial need for neonatal resuscitation. Resuscitation (if needed) must begin immediately at birth before the 1-minute score is assigned based on the infant's initial tone, breathing, and heart rate.

Last Comprehensive Review: 2026

Recent Journal Updates

BJOGJun 8, 2026

Association Between Lateral Placenta and Adverse Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Clinical Context

We think this has broad domain relevance to APGAR Score.

WHO NewsJun 5, 2026

Africa CDC and WHO launch joint continental Ebola response plan

Clinical Context

We think this has broad domain relevance to APGAR Score.

Drug SafetyJun 2, 2026

Gabapentin and Pregabalin Use in First Trimester of Pregnancy and Risk of Specific Congenital Anomalies: An IMI ConcePTION European Case-Malformed Control Study

Clinical Context

We think this has broad domain relevance to APGAR Score.