X0306 4 2016-09-01 0 0001401708 NanoString Technologies Inc NSTG 0001225501 JOHNSON JAMES A 530 FAIRVIEW AVENUE N. SEATTLE WA 98109 0 1 0 0 Chief Financial Officer Common Stock 2016-09-01 4 A 0 620 12.16 A 5089 D The reporting person is voluntarily reporting the acquisition of shares of the issuer's common stock pursuant to the NanoString Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP"), for the ESPP Purchase Period (as defined in the ESPP) of March 1, 2016 through September 1, 2016. This transaction is also exempt under rule 16b-3(c). The Purchase Period ended on September 1, 2016 and is the first of two Purchase Periods comprising the Offering Period (as defined in the ESPP) that began on March 1, 2016 (the "Enrollment Date"). In accordance with the ESPP, these shares were purchased based on 85% of the closing price of the issuer's common stock on the Enrollment Date. /s/ Shannon Atchison, Attorney-in-fact 2016-09-06