Glasgow Coma Scale arithmetic: validate components and preserve not-testable status

Keep the components, not just a total

For a fictional fully testable observation, eye response is scored 1–4, verbal response 1–5 and motor response 1–6. The sum ranges from 3 through 15. Clinical assessment requires the structured method and consideration of factors that interfere with testing.

If a component cannot be tested, record NT rather than inventing a 0 or 1. The official Glasgow Coma Scale guidance advises against reporting a total when a component is not testable. The spreadsheet therefore returns a separate message in that case.

This is an arithmetic exercise, not a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, coma or an airway-management recommendation. Different E/V/M combinations can share a total. Preserve the original components and assessment time when designing a real record system.

Guard ranges, integer values and missing data

All testable components must be numeric integers within their own ranges. Missing data is an invalid incomplete example; NT is a distinct explicitly recorded non-testable status.

=IF(OR(B2="NT",B3="NT",B4="NT"),"Not testable: no total",IF(COUNT(B2:B4)<>3,"Invalid inputs",IF(OR(B2<1,B2>4,B3<1,B3>5,B4<1,B4>6,B2<>INT(B2),B3<>INT(B3),B4<>INT(B4)),"Invalid inputs",SUM(B2:B4))))

Display the component profile alongside the total

For fully testable input, display each component separately. With NT, the formula suppresses the total; the original cells still retain the individual values and status. This avoids deriving a clinical severity label solely from the sum.

=IF(OR(B2="NT",B3="NT",B4="NT"),"Not testable: no total",IF(COUNT(B2:B4)<>3,"Invalid inputs",IF(OR(B2<1,B2>4,B3<1,B3>5,B4<1,B4>6,B2<>INT(B2),B3<>INT(B3),B4<>INT(B4)),"Invalid inputs","E"&B2&" V"&B3&" M"&B4&" (total "&SUM(B2:B4)&")")))

Further reading

• Microsoft Support — OR function
• Glasgow Coma Scale — official FAQ on non-testable components