[May 31, 2012]

Affymetrix and Leica Microsystems Announce Worldwide Collaboration on Automated, Single-Copy, RNA In Situ Hybridization (ISH) Tissue Assay for Research Use

Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) and Leica Microsystems are pleased to announce a world-wide collaboration that automates Affymetrix' QuantiGene^® ViewRNA ISH Tissue Assay on the Leica BOND RX staining platform for research applications*. This partnership provides researchers with a powerful automated everyday solution for drug-discovery, translational research, and the development of new companion diagnostic tests for personalized medicine by significantly reducing assay time for single-copy RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) analysis.

The highly-sensitive QuantiGene^® ViewRNA ISH Tissue Assay assists drug discovery and translation research by enabling researchers to measure RNA expression directly in a tissue section at single-copy sensitivity. Over one thousand standard probes are already available and it only takes a few days to produce a customized probe for a new gene target. The Leica BOND RX system automates the staining process bringing all the benefits of consistency, reduced labor, and speed. This means researchers can now have access to same-day assay completion and, with a standardized staining protocol, rapid set-up for any probe.

George Bers, Vice President and General Manager of Expression Business Unit - Panomics at Affymetrix states that: "We are excited by this partnership with Leica as it unlcks the true potential of single-copy RNA analysis and we believe it will accelerate the discovery of important new drugs and the validation of novel companion tests."

Arnd Kaldowski, President of Leica Biosystems, agrees saying "While medical science has created powerful new treatments that greatly enhance lives, there are still many disease states where we need to discover better treatments, or even cures. We are proud that this collaboration with Affymetrix can help in the discovery and development process by enabling researchers to reduce both the time and cost of research so that new treatments can be made available to patients sooner."

Affymetrix' QuantiGene^® ViewRNA ISH Tissue Assay will be available for research applications in Q3 2012 on the research-optimized Leica BOND RX platform. An optimized QuantiGene^® ViewRNA staining protocol will be pre-loaded onto the Leica BOND RX and a complete staining kit, including probes and all detection components, will be available from Affymetrix.

*For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

PLEASE NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, GeneChip, QuantiGene and all other trademarks are the property of Affymetrix, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Leica Microsystems

Leica Microsystems is a world leader in microscopes and scientific instruments. Founded as a family business in the nineteenth century, the company's history was marked by unparalleled innovation on its way to becoming a global enterprise.

Its historically close cooperation with the scientific community is the key to Leica Microsystems' tradition of innovation, which draws on users' ideas and creates solutions tailored to their requirements. At the global level, Leica Microsystems is organized in four divisions, all of which are among the leaders in their respective fields: the Life Science Division, Industry Division, Biosystems Division and Medical Division.

Leica Microsystems' Biosystems Division, also known as Leica Biosystems, offers histopathology laboratories the most extensive product range with appropriate products for each work step in histology and for a high level of productivity in the working processes of the entire laboratory.

The company is represented in over 100 countries with 12 manufacturing facilities in 7 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries and an international network of dealers. The company is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.

About Affymetrix

Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology companies, as well as leading academic, government, and nonprofit research institutes. More than 25,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and has manufacturing facilities in Santa Clara, Cleveland, Ohio, and Singapore. The company has about 900 employees worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit http://www.affymetrix.com.

Forward-looking statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies" or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected. These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and other SEC (News - Alert) reports for subsequent quarterly periods.

PLEASE NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, GeneChip, QuantiGene and all other trademarks are the property of Affymetrix, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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