The invention relates to an apparatus for purification, respectively processing and/or analysis of biological target molecules with a detection device for detecting at least one object, which includes at least one detection area, wherein the detection device is adapted to detect at least one height value of the detection area and is adapted to determine, from the at least one height value, a spatial position and/or orientation and/or a type and/or a presence and/or a number and/or a state of the at least one object. Further, the invention relates to a receiving device for receiving material for the processing, purification and/or analysis of biological target molecules with at least one identification element, wherein the at least one identification element defines a height profile for identifying the receiving device, wherein the height profile is provided for at least one height measurement and extends at least in sections along a line, preferably a straight line. Finally, the invention relates to a method for inventorying, position determining and/or orientation determining of objects, which are needed for the automatic processing of a material, which contains biological target molecules, on a corresponding apparatus, in which at least one height value of a detection area of the respective object is detected, and, from the height value, a spatial position and/or an orientation and/or a type and/or a presence and/or a number and/or a state of the respective object is determined on the apparatus.