A method for determining the temperature of a subject with an electronic thermometer, said method comprising: receiving from a user of the electronic thermometer a selection between at least a first mode of operation of the thermometer and a second mode of operation of the thermometer; collecting temperatures of the subject (Step 57, 59, 87) measured by the thermometer over time; applying (Step 61) at least some of the collected measured temperatures to a predictive algorithm according to the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for a first mode of operation; terminating the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) when a time limit has elapsed or a data point limit has been met (Step 67) according to the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for the first mode of operation; wherein said terminating the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) according to the first mode of operation comprises terminating the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) when the collecting temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) has occurred continuously for S number of seconds or N number of measured temperatures; characterized in that the method further comprises: applying (Step 63) at least some of the collected measured temperatures to the same predictive algorithm according to the second mode of operation different from the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for a second mode of operation; maintaining the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) according to the second mode of operation beyond the termination according to the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for the second mode of operation; estimating the temperature of the subject (Steps 67, 69) based upon the collected temperatures associated with the selected mode of operation. receiving from a user of the electronic thermometer a selection between at least a first mode of operation of the thermometer and a second mode of operation of the thermometer; collecting temperatures of the subject (Step 57, 59, 87) measured by the thermometer over time; applying (Step 61) at least some of the collected measured temperatures to a predictive algorithm according to the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for a first mode of operation; terminating the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) when a time limit has elapsed or a data point limit has been met (Step 67) according to the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for the first mode of operation; wherein said terminating the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) according to the first mode of operation comprises terminating the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) when the collecting temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) has occurred continuously for S number of seconds or N number of measured temperatures; characterized in that the method further comprises: applying (Step 63) at least some of the collected measured temperatures to the same predictive algorithm according to the second mode of operation different from the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for a second mode of operation; maintaining the collecting of temperatures (Step 57, 59, 87) according to the second mode of operation beyond the termination according to the first mode of operation when the selection received from the user is for the second mode of operation; estimating the temperature of the subject (Steps 67, 69) based upon the collected temperatures associated with the selected mode of operation.