ISO 20963:2005描述了一种测定受污染的土壤和物质对鼠疫菌幼虫存活的影响的方法。幼虫通过表皮和消化吸收暴露于污染物。 对于受污染的土壤，在试验土壤和对照土壤中测定对存活的影响。根据研究的目的，对照和稀释基质（污染土壤的稀释系列）是与待测土壤样品相当的未污染土壤或人工土壤基质。使用确定的人工土壤基质评估物质的影响。 ISO 20963:2005不适用于挥发性物质，即亨利常数或空气/水分配系数大于1的物质，或25°C时蒸汽压超过0,001 33 Pa的物质。 该方法没有考虑测试过程中物质或污染物可能发生的降解。

ISO 20963:2005 describes a method for the determination of the effects of contaminated soils and substances on the survival of the larvae of Oxythyrea funesta. The larvae are exposed to the pollutants by cuticular and alimentary uptake. For contaminated soils, the effects on the survival are determined in the test soil and in a control soil. Depending on the objectives of the study, the control and dilution substrates (dilution series of contaminated soil) are either uncontaminated soil comparable to the soil sample to be tested or artificial soil substrate. Effects of substances are assessed using a defined artificial soil substrate. ISO 20963:2005 is not applicable to volatile substances, i.e. substances for which Henry's constant or the air/water partition coefficient is greater than 1, or for which the vapour pressure exceeds 0,001 33 Pa at 25 °C. This method does not take into account the possible degradation of the substances or pollutants during the test.