The present invention provides a transfer assembly for transferring a fluid between a vessel and a vial and a method for using same. The vial may be a maximum recovery vial. The vessel has a body with an open end and a slidable piston positioned within the body through the open end. The maximum recovery vial has an inner chamber with an open end and a closed end and a penetrable seal covering the open end of the inner chamber. The transfer assembly includes a housing having first and second open ends and a bore extending between the first and second open ends. The housing is connectable to the piston. The transfer assembly also includes a conduit having first and second ends and first and second apertures adjacent to the first and second ends, respectively. The conduit is longitudinally slidable within the bore between a retracted position in which the first aperture is positioned within at least one of the housing and the piston when the housing is connected to the piston, and an activated position in which the first aperture protrudes through the piston into the body of the vessel when the housing is connected to the piston. The transfer assembly also includes a vial socket assembly having a vial socket and a hollow piercing member. The vial socket is sized and shaped for receiving and engaging at least a portion of the maximum recovery vial including the penetrable seal. The hollow piercing member has a first open end in fluid communication with the conduit and a second open end for piercing the penetrable seal of the maximum recovery vial. The hollow piercing member is sized to extend substantially the full length of the inner chamber of the maximum recovery vial when the maximum recovery vial is fully engaged in the vial socket. The vial socket assembly is moveable longitudinally relative to the housing in concert with the conduit.