A solid-phase immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin F.sub.1.alpha., the
stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (Prostaglandin I.sub.2) is
disclosed. Prostacyclin, a potent vasodilator with anti-platelet and
anti-proliferative properties is an effective treatment for primary
pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension associated
with scleroderma and scleroderma-like syndrome. Levels of
6-keto-Prostaglandin F.sub.1.alpha. can be directly correlated with
levels of prostacyclin. Therefore, 6-keto-Prostaglandin F.sub.1.alpha.
has become the indicator of choice to measure prostacyclin levels. The
single step immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin F.sub.1.alpha. uses the
bioluminescent protein, aequorin as a label. Analyte-label conjugates
were constructed by linking the carboxyl group of 6-keto-Prostaglandin
F.sub.1.alpha. and lysine residues of aequorin by chemical conjugation
methods. The binding properties of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F.sub.1.alpha.
towards its antibody and the bioluminescent properties of aequorin are
retained in the conjugate. The concentration of 6-keto-Prostaglandin
F.sub.1.alpha. after extraction from plasma shows good correlation with
the concentration of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F.sub.1.alpha. obtained without
prior extraction of the same plasma sample. The assay allows the
measurement of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F.sub.1.alpha. directly in plasma
without any pre-treatment of the samples, which results in a much simpler
method with a faster assay time.