-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UduB5lrAAaAOT864/Xzj19uGHXr5BnVPM908ul+sW6Qof1sH7kXtRiF3znTRDi1o
 aQB3saDcbPBov0taAXjhxg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-003921.txt : 20030722
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-003921.hdr.sgml : 20030722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030721192555
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-003921
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOUCKS VERNON R JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183294

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28218
		FILM NUMBER:		03795153

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE AETHENA GROUP, LLC
		STREET 2:		1101 SKOKIE BLVD., STE. 240
		CITY:			NORTHBROOK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60062
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479483600

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AFFYMETRIX INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000913077
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				770319159
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3380 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4085226000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3380 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000913077</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AFFYMETRIX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AFFX</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183294</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOUCKS VERNON R JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Options to Purchase Common Stock</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.17</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>0</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-07-17</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-07-19</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Amended and Restated 1996 Nonemployee Directors Stock Option Plan of Affymetrix, Inc.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Vernon R. Loucks, Jr.</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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