Abstract: An apparatus for combining a first liquid component 90 stored in a container 125 and a second component stored in a vial 7 by means of negative pressure is disclosed. A tray 1 has a vial cavity 11 and a container cavity 12. A dual-ended transfer needle 131 is fixedly held at the tray 1 at an intermediate needle holding portion 13 between the vial cavity 11 and the container cavity 12 for establishing a fluid communication between the vial 7 and the container 125 by piercing a rubber stopper of the vial and a bottom of the container, respectively. The vial cavity 11 guides the vial 7 along an axial direction AD from an intermediate position towards the transfer position for fluid communication. And the container cavity 12 guides the container 125 along the axial direction AD from an intermediate position towards the transfer position for fluid communication.