The determmatlon of hydride-formmg elements usmg dtierent sample mtroductlon procedures mto nucrowaveinduced plasmas (MIPS) has been studied For the deternunatlon of As, Sb and Se. analyte mtroductlon was accomplished Hnth a pneumatic concentnc glass nebuhzer, a graphite furnace, or wtth hydnde generation followed by cold-trapping or hot-trappmg m a graphite furnace The detectlon lumts obtained Hrlth dtierent types of low power MIPS (toroldal, 1 or 3 filament MIPS) operated m a TM,,, cavity according to Beenakker also were investigated The construction of the flow system used for preconcentratlon and the effects of reagent conccntratlon, gas flow rates as well as other experimental condltlons were described m detad Smtable conditions for multlelement determmatlon with MIP-atomrc emlsslon spectrometq (AES) were mvestlgatcd The trappmg of the hydrides followed by their vaporization showed substantial advantages over the other mtroductlon systems mvestlgated, especmlly mth respect to power of detection Further, mutual interferences being a big problem m atomic absorption spectrometry are mdely absent m MIP-AES Under compromise operatmg conditions the detectlon hmlts for As, Sb and Se are 0 4, 0 35, 0 25 ng ml-' respectively, while the sample volume can be vaned from 0 05 ml up to several mdhhtres