There is disclosed a receptacle (200) for receiving one or more substances to be lyophilized, the receptacle comprising: one or more wells (201), each well configured to hold a substance to be lyophilized and comprising an at least substantially hemispherical shaped bottom interior surface; and a sealable upper surface (202) configured such that a seal (203) may be applied thereto and sealed such that each of the one or more wells are individually sealed and isolated from an uncontrolled environment external to the sealed receptacle, wherein an exterior shape of at least a bottom portion of the receptacle is configured to conform with a receptacle receiving portion (16) of a lyophilization nest (1), so as to maximize a surface contact area between the receptacle and the corresponding receptacle receiving portion, and wherein the receptacle comprises a low vapor transmission rate material configured to impede migration of water vapor through the material.