carrier 4 in the reverse of the movement from step 2 plunger 11 is moved back into the at rest position by means of spring force 5 the pipetting needle 3 removes the transfer material 6 the subsequent upward movement of the pipetting needle carrier 4 results in the movement sequence from step 2 being repeated with the result that plunger 11 is moved out of the at rest position into the working position 7 as a result of suitable movement of the reagent container relative to the plunger the lid of the reagent container stopper is closed by means of the catch 15 and the reagent container is moved into an at rest position 8 the transfer device is now ready for the next transfer operation fig9 and 10 show an alternative advantageous configuration of the transfer appliance according to the invention in a similar manner to the exemplary embodiment described above in this embodiment the movement of the toothed belt 26 which moves the pipetting needle carrier 4 is utilized in order to move the plunger 11 the pipetting needle carrier 4 is moved upward out of the displacement position and in the process the movement is transmitted via the catch 7 and a thrust plate 27 to the plunger 11 which consequently is moved out of the at rest position into the working position the use of a thrust plate allows even a plunger which is at a three dimensional distance from the.