diff --git a/README_pypi.md b/README_pypi.md
index e01e6ff..51eb032 100644
--- a/README_pypi.md
+++ b/README_pypi.md
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ Options:
 
 The `validate` command will check that a Batch can be created from a given CSV and if your user account has permission
 to upload the samples, the individual FastQ files are then checked for validity. These checks are already performed
-by default with the `upload` command but using this can ensure validity without commiting to the subsequent upload
+by default with the `upload` command but using this can ensure validity without committing to the subsequent upload
 if you're looking to check a CSV during writing it.
 
 ## `pathogena query-raw`
diff --git a/src/pathogena/cli.py b/src/pathogena/cli.py
index 3c2f018..0b0d977 100644
--- a/src/pathogena/cli.py
+++ b/src/pathogena/cli.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def validate(upload_csv: Path, *, host: str | None = None) -> None:
     """Validate a given upload CSV."""
     host = lib.get_host(host)
     batch = models.create_batch_from_csv(upload_csv)
-    lib.upload_batch(batch=batch, host=host, save=False, validate_only=True)
+    lib.validate_csv(host=host, batch=batch)
     lib.validate_upload_permissions(batch=batch, protocol=lib.get_protocol(), host=host)
     batch.validate_all_sample_fastqs()
     logging.info(f"Successfully validated {upload_csv}")
diff --git a/src/pathogena/lib.py b/src/pathogena/lib.py
index 96ae4bc..195a7d6 100644
--- a/src/pathogena/lib.py
+++ b/src/pathogena/lib.py
@@ -163,11 +163,77 @@ def get_credit_balance(host: str) -> None:
             )
 
 
+def validate_csv(host: str, batch: UploadBatch):
+    """Validates the CSV prior to upload.
+
+    Calls `/validate_creation` in Portal to validate payload - endpoint returns 422 if issues are found.
+
+    Args:
+        batch (models.UploadBatch): The batch of samples to decontaminate
+        host (str): The host server.
+
+    Returns:
+        None
+    """
+    instrument_platform = batch.samples[0].instrument_platform
+    collection_date = batch.samples[0].collection_date
+    country = batch.samples[0].country
+    telemetry_data = {
+        "client": {
+            "name": "pathogena-client",
+            "version": pathogena.__version__,
+        },
+        "decontamination": {
+            "name": "hostile",
+            "version": hostile.__version__,
+        },
+        "specimen_organism": batch.samples[0].specimen_organism,
+    }
+
+    local_batch_name = (
+        batch.samples[0].batch_name
+        if batch.samples[0].batch_name not in ["", " ", None]
+        else f"batch_{collection_date}"
+    )
+    data = {
+        "collection_date": str(collection_date),
+        "instrument": instrument_platform,
+        "country": country,
+        "name": local_batch_name,
+        "amplicon_scheme": "amplicon_scheme",
+        "telemetry_data": telemetry_data,
+    }
+    try:
+        with httpx.Client(
+            event_hooks=httpx_hooks,
+            transport=httpx.HTTPTransport(retries=5),
+            timeout=60,
+            follow_redirects=True,
+        ) as client:
+            try:
+                validation_response = client.post(
+                    f"{get_protocol()}://{host}/api/v1/batches/validate_creation",
+                    headers={
+                        "Authorization": f"Bearer {util.get_access_token(host)}",
+                        "accept": "application/json",
+                    },
+                    json=data,
+                    follow_redirects=True,
+                )
+            except Exception as e:
+                logging.error(f"Error validating CSV: {e}")
+        assert validation_response.status_code == 200
+    except AssertionError:
+        logging.error(
+            f"Unexpected response code from CSV validation. Response: {validation_response}"
+        )
+        exit(1)
+
+
 def create_batch_on_server(
     batch: UploadBatch,
     host: str,
     amplicon_scheme: str | None,
-    validate_only: bool = False,
 ) -> tuple[str, str, str, str]:
     """Create batch on server, return batch id.
 
@@ -175,10 +241,9 @@ def create_batch_on_server(
     total samples in the BatchModel.
 
     Args:
+        batch (models.UploadBatch): The batch of samples to decontaminate
         host (str): The host server.
-        number_of_samples (int): The expected number of samples in the batch.
         amplicon_scheme (str | None): The amplicon scheme to use.
-        validate_only (bool): Whether to validate only. Defaults to False.
 
     Returns:
         tuple[str, str]: The batch ID and name.
@@ -213,9 +278,7 @@ def create_batch_on_server(
         "telemetry_data": telemetry_data,
     }
 
-    url = f"{get_protocol()}://{host}/api/v1/batches"
-    if validate_only:
-        url += "/validate_creation"
+    url = f"{get_protocol()}://{get_upload_host()}/api/v1/batches/"
     try:
         with httpx.Client(
             event_hooks=httpx_hooks,
@@ -224,7 +287,7 @@ def create_batch_on_server(
             follow_redirects=True,
         ) as client:
             batch_create_response = client.post(
-                f"{get_protocol()}://{get_upload_host()}/api/v1/batches/",
+                url,
                 headers={
                     "Authorization": f"Bearer {util.get_access_token(host)}",
                     "accept": "application/json",
@@ -232,9 +295,6 @@ def create_batch_on_server(
                 json=data,
                 follow_redirects=True,
             )
-            if validate_only:
-                # Don't attempt to return data if just validating (as there's none there)
-                return None, None, None, None  # type: ignore
 
             created_batch = batch_create_response.json()
             batch_id = created_batch["id"]