NATURE OF OPERATIONS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
NATURE OF OPERATIONS	NOTE 1—NATURE OF OPERATIONS Affymetrix, Inc. (“Affymetrix” or the “Company”) is engaged in the development, manufacture, sale and service of consumables and systems for genetic analysis in the life sciences and clinical healthcare markets. Affymetrix has developed its GeneChip® system and related microarray technology as the platform of choice for acquiring, analyzing and managing complex genetic information. The Company’s integrated GeneChip® microarray platform includes: disposable DNA probe arrays (chips) consisting of nucleic acid sequences set out in an ordered, high density pattern, certain reagents for use with the probe arrays, a scanner and other instruments used to process the probe arrays, and software to analyze and manage genomic or genetic information obtained from the probe arrays. Related microarray technology also offered by Affymetrix includes licenses for fabricating, scanning, collecting and analyzing results from complementary technologies. The Company currently sells its products directly to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrichemical, diagnostics and consumer products companies as well as academic research centers, government research laboratories, private foundation laboratories and clinical reference laboratories in North America and Europe. The Company also sells some of its products through life science supply specialists acting as authorized distributors in Latin America, India, the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, including China. On November 29, 2011, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) to acquire eBioscience Holding Company, Inc. (“eBioscience”) for approximately $330 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments as provided in the Merger Agreement. eBioscience is a privately-held San Diego, California-based company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of flow cytometry and immunoassay reagents for immunology and oncology research and diagnostics. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of financing for the merger. In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company entered into a commitment letter with financing sources providing for $190 million of senior secured credit. The conditions to funding these facilities have not been satisfied, and as a result we will not be able to complete the eBioscience acquisition unless the terms of the acquisition and the financing are restructured. The Company is in discussions with financing sources and with eBioscience regarding the possibility of restructuring the committed financing but no agreements or understandings has been reached. The Company has waived eBioscience’s obligations under the non-solicitation provisions set forth in the Merger Agreement and understands that eBioscience is considering alternatives to the merger. The Merger Agreement may be terminated by either party if the closing of the merger has not occurred by March 31, 2012, so long as the breach of the Merger Agreement by the party seeking to terminate has not been the proximate cause of or resulted in the failure of the merger to occur on or before such date.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

NOTE 1—NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Affymetrix, Inc. (“Affymetrix” or the “Company”) is engaged in the development, manufacture, sale and service of consumables and systems for genetic analysis in the life sciences and clinical healthcare markets. Affymetrix has developed its GeneChip® system and related microarray technology as the platform of choice for acquiring, analyzing and managing complex genetic information. The Company’s integrated GeneChip® microarray platform includes: disposable DNA probe arrays (chips) consisting of nucleic acid sequences set out in an ordered, high density pattern, certain reagents for use with the probe arrays, a scanner and other instruments used to process the probe arrays, and software to analyze and manage genomic or genetic information obtained from the probe arrays. Related microarray technology also offered by Affymetrix includes licenses for fabricating, scanning, collecting and analyzing results from complementary technologies. The Company currently sells its products directly to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrichemical, diagnostics and consumer products companies as well as academic research centers, government research laboratories, private foundation laboratories and clinical reference laboratories in North America and Europe. The Company also sells some of its products through life science supply specialists acting as authorized distributors in Latin America, India, the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, including China.

On November 29, 2011, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) to acquire eBioscience Holding Company, Inc. (“eBioscience”) for approximately $330 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments as provided in the Merger Agreement. eBioscience is a privately-held San Diego, California-based company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of flow cytometry and immunoassay reagents for immunology and oncology research and diagnostics. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of financing for the merger.

In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company entered into a commitment letter with financing sources providing for $190 million of senior secured credit. The conditions to funding these facilities have not been satisfied, and as a result we will not be able to complete the eBioscience acquisition unless the terms of the acquisition and the financing are restructured. The Company is in discussions with financing sources and with eBioscience regarding the possibility of restructuring the committed financing but no agreements or understandings has been reached. The Company has waived eBioscience’s obligations under the non-solicitation provisions set forth in the Merger Agreement and understands that eBioscience is considering alternatives to the merger. The Merger Agreement may be terminated by either party if the closing of the merger has not occurred by March 31, 2012, so long as the breach of the Merger Agreement by the party seeking to terminate has not been the proximate cause of or resulted in the failure of the merger to occur on or before such date.