Americium is an important actinide element having versatile applications based on its alpha and gamma emissions. Multi-element determination of radioactive samples using ICP-AES technique may be affected by the presence of americium due to its rich emission spectra. With a view to characterize plutonium based fuels containing americium for trace metals by ICP-AES technique accurately, a high purity ²⁴¹Am (using a separation procedure developed in our laboratory) was prepared. To ascertain its chemical purity it is essential to determine its impurity contents accurately. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), being a sensitive multi-elemental technique, was employed to determine the concentrations of impurities in purified ²⁴¹Am. Detection limits for the common elements and rare earth elements have also been determined. Comparison is made with the analytical data obtained by the ICP-AES method.