Pipette tip-holding container for accommodating a plurality of pipette tips, comprising - a receiving cradle having a base and side walls (8 to 11) which project upwards from the base, which side walls (8 to 11) surround at least a portion of a receiving opening and together with the base define a receiving area; - a cover having a cover wall and having cover side walls (15 to 18) which project from the cover wall, which cover side walls (15 to 18) together with the cover wall define a cover interior; - wherein in its closed position the cover covers the receiving opening of the receiving cradle and is held on the receiving cradle so as to be removable, characterized in that - at least a portion of the outer peripheral region of the cover defines a footprint which is standardized according to standard SLAS 1-2004 of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) with a length dimension having a value of 127.76 mm ± 0.25 mm and with a width dimension aligned at right angles thereto having a value of 85.48 mm ± 0.25 mm, - a positioning device with multiple positioning elements which are arranged particularly in distribution over the periphery of the cover is provided on the cover, - in an open position when removed from the receiving cradle, the cover forms an adapter element for the receiving cradle, and - in the open position with the cover removed, the receiving cradle is supported by its base on the cover which has been removed from the receiving cradle to create an adapter position, and in said adapter position the receiving cradle is aligned by means of the positioning elements relatively with reference to the footprint defined by the cover in a positioning position for automated sample processing. - a receiving cradle having a base and side walls (8 to 11) which project upwards from the base, which side walls (8 to 11) surround at least a portion of a receiving opening and together with the base define a receiving area; - a cover having a cover wall and having cover side walls (15 to 18) which project from the cover wall, which cover side walls (15 to 18) together with the cover wall define a cover interior; - wherein in its closed position the cover covers the receiving opening of the receiving cradle and is held on the receiving cradle so as to be removable, characterized in that - at least a portion of the outer peripheral region of the cover defines a footprint which is standardized according to standard SLAS 1-2004 of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) with a length dimension having a value of 127.76 mm ± 0.25 mm and with a width dimension aligned at right angles thereto having a value of 85.48 mm ± 0.25 mm, - a positioning device with multiple positioning elements which are arranged particularly in distribution over the periphery of the cover is provided on the cover, - in an open position when removed from the receiving cradle, the cover forms an adapter element for the receiving cradle, and - in the open position with the cover removed, the receiving cradle is supported by its base on the cover which has been removed from the receiving cradle to create an adapter position, and in said adapter position the receiving cradle is aligned by means of the positioning elements relatively with reference to the footprint defined by the cover in a positioning position for automated sample processing.