Infrared laser ablation (IR-LA) was studied as a sample introduction technique for the analysis of sintered cobalt-cemented tungsten carbide materials by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). A Q-switched nanosecond Nd:YAG laser (LINA-Spark Atomizer, LSA Sarl, Cully, Switzerland) based on the Surelite I-20 laser (Continuum, USA) and a Perkin-Elmer Optima 3000 DV ICP system (lateral viewing) were used. The fractionation of cobalt was observed. Linearity of calibration plots was verified at least up to 15 % Ti, 8 % Ta and 3 % Nb. Above 1% (mass %) Ti, Ta and Nb, the repeatability of results was better than 3 % R.S.D. The relative uncertainty at the centroid of the calibration line was in the range from ą 3% to ą 4% for Ti, Ta and Nb with internal standardization by tungsten and up to ą 5% without internal standardization. The limits of detection were 0.004 % Ti, 0.001 % Ta and 0.004 % Nb. The elimination of the cemented hardmetal dissolution procedure is the main advantage of this method.