Patients presenting to the emergency department with clinical signs and symptoms of acute ischemic stroke will undergo initial evaluation. The patient will be screened for study eligibility. A medical history and list of active medications will be documented. A physical will be conducted including the patient's temperature, hemodynamic and neurological status (NIHSS score), 12-lead ECG, and routine baseline laboratory values including magnesium, CBC, BMP, coagulation parameters, CK, CK-MB, and Troponin I. If all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria are present, a member of the research team will consult the patient's attending physician for permission to approach the patient. If he/she agrees, a member of the team will inform the patient or guardian about the study's purpose and obtain written informed consent. A screening log will be kept of all patients screened for this study and the reasons they were not enrolled.