What is the maximum score an infant can receive on the HR criteria of the APGAR?

The maximum score an infant can receive on the heart rate (HR) criteria of the APGAR scoring system is 2. The APGAR score is a quick assessment tool used to evaluate the health of newborns immediately after birth, based on five criteria: Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace response (reflexes), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration.

For the heart rate criterion, a score of 0 is given if there is no heartbeat, a score of 1 is assigned if the heart rate is below 100 beats per minute, and a perfect score of 2 is awarded if the heart rate is greater than or equal to 100 beats per minute. This scoring indicates a well-functioning cardiovascular system in the newborn, which is a critical aspect of immediate newborn health. Thus, obtaining a score of 2 for heart rate reflects that the infant is responding well and is likely stable cardiovascularly.