Which of the following is an advantage of centralized facilities?

Centralized facilities provide significant advantages in operational efficiency, which is why greater efficiency is the correct answer. By consolidating resources, such as staff, equipment, and animal housing, centralized facilities can streamline processes and reduce redundancies. This can lead to more effective use of space, time, and labor, resulting in overall improved productivity. Facilities can also benefit from standardized procedures and best practices being applied uniformly, further enhancing efficiency.

While other aspects such as improved investigator access, reduced risk of pathogen spread, and increased animal welfare are important considerations in the context of laboratory animal facilities, they may not be as directly correlated to the centralization of resources and operations as efficiency is. Centralized facilities can still have challenges regarding access or pathogen control based on design and protocols, and while there may be benefits to animal welfare, the primary focus in this context is on how centralization fosters operational effectiveness.